JIMMY ANDERSON’S hopes of playing in the Second Test rose dramatically after team-mate Chris Woakes suffered a knee problem.

King of Swing Anderson bowled impressively at full throttle in the nets yesterday and believes he is 100 per cent ready to return.

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And he could be thrust into his first match since August because Woakes’ long-standing issue with his knee has flared up.

Anderson, 34, is England’s all-time leading Test wicket-taker with 463 victims.

The Lancashire paceman arrived in India last week after recovering from a stress fracture of the right shoulder.

England head coach Trevor Bayliss virtually ruled out his return for the match starting tomorrow when he said there were unlikely to be any changes from the team that played so well in the drawn First Test.

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But Woakes’ niggle could force England to change their plans.

Stuart Broad was rested from the Second Test in Bangladesh last month to make sure he was fully re-charged for the five-match series against the world’s No 1 Test team.

So it looks increasingly likely that the old firm of Anderson and Broad will be back in operation for the Second Test here.

Fit-again Indian opener KL Rahul will replace Gautam Gambhir.

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And coach Anil Kumble expects a better display in the field from his side after they dropped SIX first-innings chances.

He said: “This team really prides itself on its fielding and catching.”
ENGLAND (possible): Cook (capt), Hameed, Root, Duckett, Moeen, Stokes, Bairstow (wkt), Ansari, Rashid, Broad, Anderson.