James Anderson, England’s all-time highest Test wicket-taker might be available for the upcoming five-match Test series against India in August; if everything goes well with the rehabilitation of his injured shoulder.

35-year-old Anderson, who has 540 wickets in 138 Tests for England, has been out of action since June but will test his fitness in a second XI game for Lancashire on July 15. He is also scheduled to play rivals Yorkshire in the "Roses match" on July 22.

"England seamer Jimmy Anderson will make his return to competitive cricket for Lancashire second XI in a three-day match against Nottinghamshire at Old Trafford starting on July 15," read a statement from the England and Wales Cricket Board.

Anderson had called the scheduling of the 5-match Test series against India in August ‘ridiculous’, as five Tests were crammed in a space of just six weeks.

The ECB statement further said, "Anderson, who has not played since the second Test victory over Pakistan on June 3, has spent the past month rehabilitating a long-standing right shoulder injury and returned to bowling working with Lancashire and England staff in the past seven days. As part of his plan, before the first Test against India starting on August 1, he will play for Lancashire seconds against Nottinghamshire and the Roses match in the County Championship Division One match against Yorkshire at Old Trafford starting on July 22."

Anderson had picked 9 wickets against Pakistan in two Tests recently and said that he needs to rest his injured shoulder with the series against India coming up. "I just need to get in the gym and get it strong. The India schedule is ridiculous with five Tests in six weeks and that will put a lot of stress on it," he had said June.