Anderson feeling rough after golf goof

Jimmy Anderson is no stranger to a ball or two sent whizzing past his ears.

Australia's fearsome pace trio last summer ruthlessly targeted England's tail with a sustained barrage of short-pitched bowling, while the prolific quick and regular No.11 was also at the centre of a 2013-14 Ashes flashpoint in the midst of a Mitchell Johnson bouncer bombardment.

But while Anderson has stoutly managed to dodge, dip, dive, duck and dodge most deliveries aimed his way with bat in hand, he had no such luck on Monday.

Out for a spot of golf with fellow quick Stuart Broad at the swish 27-hole Stoke Park golf course in Buckinghamshire, Anderson copped one straight to the chops in a bizarre self-inflicted blow.

England's all-time leading Test wicket taker only had himself to blame – the fact he was hacking one out of the rough amidst snaking tree roots suggests he may have sliced his previous shot as sharply as one of his bending inswingers.

With Broad filming from behind, Anderson swung hard in an attempt to get his ball back on the pristine fairway, but the ball veered directly up into his face.

It's unclear whether it had travelled straight up off his club – the type of classic top edge bowlers lament – or if a tree root had redirected the path of his stroke.

Posting the vision to his Twitter and Instagram accounts, Broad, who'd reacted in shock to the crack of ball on Anderson’s head, clarified his fast-bowling partner in crime was "perfectly fine".

Anderson, who plays golf right-handed despite batting left-handed, admitted he'd had to check he wouldn't need to check in with a dentist.

That news will come as a welcome relief to England fans, with talismanic allrounder Ben Stokes set to miss the second Test at Lord's against India from Thursday as he stands trial for affray in Bristol this week following an alleged incident outside a nightclub in September.

Broad and Anderson both played key roles in England's 31-run win in the series opener at Edgbaston, with the pair collecting six wickets between them in a gripping contest.

The veteran duo may be required to shoulder a bigger workload at Lord's given the loss of Stokes.

"It means that someone else has got to take up the slack," England coach Trevor Bayliss said.

"It will be interesting to see who can step up and take his place. Someone, or two or three guys, have to do the extra yards. That will be a telling factor for the next match."

England have dropped Dawid Malan after a run of low scores, with uncapped batsman Ollie Pope added alongside fit-again paceman Chris Woakes to a 13-man squad for the second Test.