Anderson's finger is examined by the England backroom team

He broke the little finger on his bowling hand on Wednesday but was able to take part in fielding practice on the eve of the match.

The 24-year-old bowled, threw and batted with his hand heavily strapped.

But despite coming through the session without any discomfort, the management may still decide not to risk him.

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"It depends how well he can protect it and how he feels pain-wise," said Andrew Flintoff.

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Anderson missed much of the summer with a back problem but recovered just in time to be selected for the winter tour, only to be sent home injured.

"Jimmy's been dogged by injuries and been really unlucky," Flintoff added.

"He's had his back and one thing and another and we saw signs in the winter that he was back to his best.

"He was swinging the ball at pace, he was taking the new ball and taking a lot of responsibility on his shoulders and coming through so fingers crossed he'll be all right."

Flintoff said that injuries were part and parcel of the game.

"You do get injured as a fast bowler," he said.

"You probably don't expect your finger to go but you do pick up niggles here and there and it's part and parcel of the job.

"He's worked hard on his fitness and worked hard to get back to fitness and hopefully he'll be all right."

Meanwhile captain Michael Vaughan has insisted he is fit enough to play a full part in the World Cup campaign.

Vaughan has yet to complete a full match since returning from a troublesome hamstring injury and a year out after knee surgery.

"Hopefully I'll prove on Friday that I can get through a game," he said.

"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."