Included in that was an outstanding performance in the season opener at Trent Bridge when, using the less bowler-friendly Kookaburra ball, he took a hat-trick in the first innings, then six for 14 in the second to win the game for Essex. Although Cook does not bowl with express pace, he is relentlessly accurate and highly skilful.

England could chose to use the West Indies’ warm-up fixture against a County Select XI a week before the first Test for Cook to prove his fitness.

Meanwhile, Anderson is set to play just one County Championship match to gear up for his Test swansong, at Southport next Sunday, meaning he will sit out Lancashire’s trip to Canterbury this week. He is yet to play this season, and it is unclear whether his final Test will also be his first-class retirement.

Anderson will spend the rest of the Test summer in the England camp as a mentor, while also doing some media duties around the Hundred. He could play for Lancashire in late September, and possibly even into next season.

Also likely to receive a Test debut this summer are Nottinghamshire’s Dillon Pennington and Surrey’s Gus Atkinson. The likes of Chris Woakes, Mark Wood and Ollie Robinson could compete for spots in the XI, while Matt Potts and the fit-again Olly Stone could return.