Anderson fears international schedule will cause burnout

Jimmy Anderson, the England and Lancashire bowler who missed the recent tour of Bangladesh due to a knee injury, has warned that exhaustion is likely to become an increasing issue unless the international calendar is re-examined.

Anderson was absent from Alastair Cook's debut tour as captain after struggling to overcome pain in his right knee, a problem that has caused him to rest for three months.

The Burnley-born star already knew about the risks of heavy workloads having suffered a stress fracture in his back which ruined his 2006 season and he believes that resting top players is going to become an increasing necessity. "It is a very hectic schedule at the moment and I think international teams are going to have to look at their workload, especially for their bowlers," he said. "You may see more players rested."

However, Anderson's fears about being forced to miss matches simply to let bodies recover has not quelled his own personal appetite for this summer, with Test series against Bangladesh and Pakistan to contend with before travelling to Australia to try and retain the Ashes.

"It's crucial that we can get as many of our top players fit as possible for the end of the year," he added. "It is going to be a huge year – we have got a couple of big Test series here that we have to win to get some form and momentum going into the winter."

Anderson has started bowling again and featured in Lancashire's friendly against Durham at Old Trafford last week yet neither he nor his doctors are any the wiser about the knee problem that prompted his recent sabbatical.