Chris Woakes will step-up his rehabilitation from injury by competing in Warwickshire’s three-day second XI fixtures against Leicestershire that commences on Tuesday, the ECB have announced.

The all-rounder will play as a batsman only as he recovers from the 15-centimetre tear in his right quad that he suffered during the Headingley Test against Pakistan in June, as well as chronic tendinitis in his knee – an ongoing complaint.

The Warwickshire ace did not feature in the ODIs against Australia but he has not been ruled out of the Test series or even the ODI series against India, which will begin on July 12.

If the 29-year-old emerges unscathed from the second XI match, he could get a further outing with the England Lions in their four-day match against India A at Worcestershire on July 16.

News of Woakes’ injury situation came on the same day as Stuart Broad offered his own update on his injury woes.

Woakes, Broad and James Anderson – arguably England’s first choice pace attack, accompanied by all-rounder Ben Stokes – are all bidding to prove their fitness ahead of the Test series next month, with Broad and Anderson also stepping up their comeback from ankle and shoulder problems respectively.