BURNLEY bowler James Anderson's gruelling summer looks set to rule him out of England's tour to Bangladesh next month.

The 21-year-old pace bowler has a knee problem which team spokesman Andrew Walpole described as "nothing serious", but the selectors could opt to give him a rest ahead of the tours to Sri Lanka and the West Indies which follow.

"It's just wear and tear after a long season. The selectors will discuss the matter with the ECB medical team," Walpole added.

Anderson has carried a heavy workload since bursting onto the international scene during last winter's Ashes series in Australia.

He played in the World Cup in South Africa and was then a member of both Test and one-day sides during the summer.

Bangaldesh might be a good place to blood Kabir Ali and get him some experience.

A decision on his involvement in the Bangladesh tour is likely to be taken later this week following talks between the selectors and the ECB medical team.

Sussex's James Kirtley would be a leading candidate to replace him, but he also has to prove his fitness following a shin splints problem.

Kirtley has already been named as a member of the one-day squad and did well in the home Test series against South Africa, taking 13 wickets in two matches.

The England squad will leave for Dhaka on October 7.