James Anderson sits out the first test facing the Pink Ball competition in Adelaide

James Anderson will miss the first ash test in Brisbane but England insisted it was not injury related and was part of the management plan to prepare him for the day-night test in Adelaide next week.

It has always been unlikely that Anderson, the third highest Test wicket taker, would play all five Tests on a tight schedule, and he himself has previously said three of the matches could be realistic.

Anderson missed the majority of Ashes 2019 with a calf injury sustained in the Edgbaston Opening Test, missing England a bowler in a game they lost, and questions raised as to whether he would be able to to return. But since then he has taken 57 wickets in 17 tests and played in all games against New Zealand and India last summer at home.

Anderson does not have a good record at Gabba with seven wickets at 75.14 from four games. In Adelaide he took 16 wickets at 29.50. "Jimmy is fit to play and has no injury," said an ECB statement. "With five tests in six weeks, the plan was to prepare him for the second test in Adelaide.

"With the limited set-up we've had on the tour so far, neither he nor management wanted to take the risk of him playing after what happened in Edgbaston in 2019 when he collapsed the first morning.

"Yesterday he bowled at full power for almost an hour and was physically in a good position. He will do that again today in training. "He will be staying with the testing group this week and working with the coaches at Gabba instead of playing for the Lions."

There remains a chance England will go into the Opening Test without Anderson and Stuart Broad, the latter missing a large part of the home season with a calf injury. The interrupted preparations due to bad weather in Queensland have hampered the advance of the fast bowlers.

Read Here Also | Update of the ICC World Test Championship points table after the second test between India and New Zealand

"The guys only want to make sure that everything is perfect with the structure that everyone had," said Jos Buttler. "Jimmy isn't going to play but he's fit. Obviously it's a very long streak and we want a guy like that to be available for as much as possible so think it's a bit of a precautionary measure. He bowled well yesterday and will bowling again. " today."

Broad's involvement might depend on England playing a specialized crank in Jack Leach. With Ben Stokes back, it gives them a chance to launch an even attack, though there is some uncertainty about how much Stokes bowling can do as he hasn't played competitively since July.

"We always know that when he gets into this game he wants to leave his mark," said captain Joe Root of Stokes. "Yes there will be an element of managing expectations and you have to trust his experience and our entire bowling group so we can work together to win these wickets. I'm sure Ben will have a huge say in that. " It's something we'll definitely try to get right throughout the series. "

Of the potential quicks, Ollie Robinson and Mark Wood have yet to play test cricket in Australia while Chris Woakes averages 49.50 from four games, but Buttler was optimistic about taking 20 wickets.

"We're confident that's why the guys are here," he said. "There are some fantastic actors out there. Obviously, Broad and Anderson have been brilliant actors for a long time and will play a huge role on the series. No matter which XI we come out with, we will be very confident."