Coach says Anderson winning fitness race

England’s coach Andy Flower says seamer James Anderson is winning his battle to be fit for the start of the Ashes series against Australia.



The 28-year-old Anderson cracked a rib at a training camp earlier this month but it is hoped he’ll be back in action before the first Test on November 25.



Flower says Anderson is already bowling at 75 per cent and should be fine for the first Test.



He further says Anderson should also be OK for two of the warm-up games.



Anderson is thought to have suffered the injury in a sparring session during a recent team-building camp in Germany.



Despite the setback, Flower has no regrets over the controversial camp, insisting it was a very healthy experience.



Flower is also unconcerned about the form of star batsman Kevin Pietersen, who has not scored a test century since March 2009 and was forced to apologise for an expletive-laden rant on Twitter when he was dropped from the one-day side.



Pietersen joined South African side Kwazulu Natal Dolphins in a bid to rediscover his form but made 36 and a second-ball duck in his two first-class innings.



Flower says Pietersen is enjoying his trip in South Africa and he's in a very good state of mind for the tour.



England will fly to Australia on Friday. Their first tour match against Western Australia comes up on November 5 before matches against South Australia five days later and Australia ‘A’ on November 16.