James Anderson ruled out of South Africa tour after suffering rib injury

England's veteran fast bowler James Anderson has been ruled out of the remainder of the South Africa tour with a left rib injury. The experienced pacer, who had a five-wicket haul in the first innings of the Cape Town Test, sustained the injury on the last day of the second Test match.

Anderson had cleaned up the South African lower order to end with 5/40 off 19 overs in the first innings, which was instrumental in giving England the crucial first innings lead. Despite feeling the pain, Anderson continued to bowl as England was pushing for the victory in the second innings.

The 37-year-old bowled eight overs on the fifth day despite reporting tightness and discomfort at the end of the morning session. England's highest-ever wicket taker was taken for a scan on Wednesday which confirmed that the bowler suffered a bone-related injury, which has ruled him for the remaining tour of South Africa. This leaves England without his services in Port Elizabeth and Johannesburg Tests. The swing master had scalped nine wickets in the first two Test matches.

Such injuries are expected to take six to eight weeks to heal and Anderson will also have to undergo a rehabilitation process. The experienced fast bowler will head back home to start his rehab process whereas Craig Overton, the lanky pacer from Somerset, will stay with the team as a cover.

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He has had his issues with injuries in the recent past. The England pack leader had bowled only four overs in the Ashes and was ruled out with a calf injury. Subsequently, he had made his comeback in the first Test match against South Africa at Centurion.

The four-match Test series is tied 1-1 after England won the second match by 189 runs. The third Test match will take place at Port Elizabeth from January 16.