Bowled out: Injuries strike for England ahead of first Ashes Test

England look set to take an understrength bowling attack into the first Ashes Test with boom youngster Jofra Archer and veteran Jimmy Anderson battling injuries.

LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 14: Jofra Archer of England appeals unsuccessfully for the wicket of Martin Guptill of New Zealand during the Final of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 between New Zealand and England at Lord's Cricket Ground on July 14, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images)

• Ashes selection tracker: Who’s in and who’s out
• Paine: All-Aussie game not just a Test shootout

The Ashes availability of England’s best World Cup bowler Jofra Archer remains in the air while first choice quick Jimmy Anderson is facing a race to be fit for the first Test.

Archer, who took 20 wickets for the World Cup winners, is now a must-pick for England in all formats according to former skipper Michael Vaughan.

But after his tournament heroics Archer, who also has a slight side strain, has been sent to Barbados for a “bit of a break” with no guarantees given about his potential Test debut in the Ashes.

Jofra Archer is being rested after a big workload in the World Cup. Picture: Michael Steele/Getty Images

The home side had already lost quick bowler Mark Wood for the next month due to a side strain and Jimmy Anderson is nursing a calf injury which could impact his availability for the first Test in Birmingham on August 1.

Veteran Stuart Broad will instead lead an inexperienced English bowling attack for next week’s one-off Test against Ireland, England’s only red-ball warm-up for the Ashes.

England selector Ed Smith said they would do everything to make sure Archer, who bowled 100 overs in the World Cup, the most of his team, was fit as soon as possible.

Jimmy Anderson is no certainty to be available in the first Test as he battles a calf injury. Picture: Shaun Botterill/Getty Images

“He’s is having a bit of a break now he’s played a lot of cricket and has been a central protagonist in one of the great stories in sport,” Smith said.

“He will get every medical attention that we can give to make sure he has every possibility of being fit as soon as possible.

“There’s all sorts of things to manage and be sensible about: workload, trying to make sure it’s managed carefully, the leaps up aren’t too great, that he’s fit and healthy.”

Stuart Broad will be leading a weakened England bowling attack in the first Ashes Test. Picture: Phil Hillyard

Not only has Archer never played a Test, he hasn’t played a red-ball game since a county game for Sussex last September.

The England squad for the Test against Ireland also gave a pointer to the batting line-up for the Ashes, with one-day opener Jason Roy elevated after his 443 World Cup runs.

Roy has also never played a Test, and looms as the answer to England’s poor record with Test openers since the retirement of Alastair Cook.