England star James Anderson has been ruled out of remainder of Ashes series with a calf injury, in a blow to home hopes of winning series against Australia.

Anderson, England's all-time leing wicket-taker, has t bowled in series since breaking down with injury after delivering just four overs in Australia's 251-run win in first Test at Edgbaston.

37-year-old Lancashire paceman h tried to get fit for fourth Test at his Old Trafford home ground starting on Wednesday.

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James Anderson's Ashes hopes come to an end

But after bowling during a second XI match against Durham this week he has been declared unfit for final two Tests of series.

On same day Australia h better news, with star batsman Steve Smith proving his fitness by batting in his first competitive game since suffering concussion after being felled by fast bowler Jofra Archer in second Ashes test.

Smith, in middle for 47 minutes in Australia's three-day match against Derbyshire, faced 38 balls and struck two fours on his way to a total of 23 before he was caught out. t a great innings but a morale booster for tourists.

England will travel to Manchester all square at 1-1 in five-match contest after Ben Stokes's stunning 135 t saw m to a dramatic one-wicket win in third Test at Heingley last week.

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"England and Lancashire seamer James Anderson has been ruled out for rest of Specsavers Ashes series," said an England and Wales Cricket Board statement issued Friday.

"Whilst bowling in ninth over on Thursday in Lancashire's second XI four-day friendly against Durham at Chester Boughton Hall Cricket Club, Anderson became aware of right calf pain following on from 20 overs he h bowled on Tuesday.

"He immediately sought a medical assessment from Lancashire and was withdrawn from remainder of game," statement ded.

"Furr review with ECB medical team has confirmed that he will be unavailable for remaining two Specsavers Ashes Tests." 

Top of quicks - James Anderson 

Anderson has taken 575 wickets in 149 Tests at 26.94. His tally is most by any quick bowler, with Anderson fourth in all-time list of leing Test wicket-takers.

And his new-ball partnership with Stuart Bro is most-successful in Tests between two fast bowlers -- y have taken more than 850 wickets in games toger. Anderson may w have me his final Ashes appearance given he will be 39 by time England tour Australia in 2021/22.

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And it's possible his Test career could be over, although prospect of becoming first fast bowler to 600 wickets in format may spur him on to make a comeback on England's upcoming tours of New Zealand and South Africa.

England have w ded Somerset quick Craig Overton into a 13-man squ for fourth Test.

Overton, who has appeared in three Tests, is back in squ for first time since March 2018 when he played in England's loss to New Zealand at Eden Park, Auckland.

In eight County Championship matches this season, 25-year-old has taken 32 wickets at an aver of 21.34.

England also have ar pace-bowling option in Surrey left-armer Sam Curran, who has retained his squ place after t featuring in XI at Heingley.

Overton and Curran will likely be vying for role of a fourth paceman along with Chris Woakes in an England seam attack where Bro has taken 14 wickets at 25.35 so far this series.

But emergence of an express fast bowler and World Cup-winning star Archer has ded a new dimension to England's bowling in Test.

Meanwhile willingness of paceman Stokes, in his own words, to do "hard yards" makes all-rounder, England's vice-captain, a key man with both bat and ball for skipper Joe Root.

Despite being bowled out for just 67 -- ir lowest Ashes total in 71 years -- in first innings at Heingley, England have retained same set of specialist batsmen, although y could yet rejig ir top order.

England squ: 

Rory Burns (Surrey), Jason Roy (Surrey), Joe Root (Yorkshire, capt), Joe Denly (Kent), Ben Stokes (Durham), Jonny Bairstow (Yorkshire, wkt), Jos Buttler (Lancashire), Chris Woakes (Warwickshire), Jofra Archer (Sussex), Stuart Bro (ttinghamshire), Jack Leach (Somerset), Sam Curran (Surrey), Craig Overton (Somerset).

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