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Cook, Anderson to join England team
February 25, 2006 12:24 IST
Alastair Cook [Images] and James Anderson will join England's [Images] injury-hit touring party ahead of the first Test against India.
Arrangements had been made for Cook and Anderson to reach Nagpur by Sunday night, England's media manager, Andrew Walpole, told reporters on Saturday.
The opening game of the three-Test series starts in Nagpur on Wednesday.
Essex opening batsman Cook and Lancashire seam bowler Anderson were withdrawn from the 'A' team squad touring West Indies [Images] and flown back to Britain.
The 16-member England team has been hit by a series of injuries and illness.
Skipper Michael Vaughan [Images] is doubtful for the first Test following the recurrence of a knee injury and sat out of the final three-day tour game against an Indian Board President's XI as a precautionary measure.
The 31-year-old batsman had missed the first Test in Pakistan last year due to the knee injury. He played the remaining two Tests, but missed the one-day series to return home for surgery.
In addition to Vaughan, England have had to do without all rounder Paul Collingwood [Images] (back injury) and fast bowler Simon Jones (virus) against the President's XI.
A sore back also forced batsman Kevin Pietersen [Images] to retire hurt on Thursday while paceman Liam Plunkett was unable to bowl on Friday due to a bruised heel.