GROS ISLET (St Lucia), March 14: England pace bowler James Anderson has been taken to hospital with a suspected broken little finger on his left hand, media who witnessed the incident said on Wednesday.

An England team spokesman said a statement would be issued later.

Anderson was battling with three other seam bowlers for two spots in England's line-up for their opening World Cup Group C clash with New Zealand on Friday.

The 24-year-old sustained the injury during training and was immediately taken for further examination at a local hospital, media said.

Anderson has only just recovered from a back problem which forced him out of England's recent victorious tri-series campaign in Australia.

England captain Michael Vaughan, meanwhile, said on Wednesday he hoped to play a full part in the match with New Zealand.

The 32-year-old has been working his way back to full fitness after knee and hamstring injuries but only fielded for part of the warm-up games with Bermuda and Australia last week.

“Hopefully I'll prove on Friday that I can get through a game,” Vaughan told reporters.

“I've trained every single day and I've had nothing go wrong with the hamstring and nothing go wrong with the knee and I'm just looking forward to playing cricket now.

“There is absolutely nothing to suggest I won't play a full part in this World Cup.”

England are expected to go in with the same batting lineup from the warm-ups but have yet to decide which two of Anderson, Sajid Mahmood, Liam Plunkett and Jon Lewis will take the seam bowling slots.—Reuters