'No Worries' For Anderson Ahead Of Third Test

'No Worries' For Anderson Ahead Of Third Test

James Anderson was speaking to us from Old Trafford, where he was due to play for Lancashire against Worcestershire before the rain forced the game to be abandoned

©Simon Pendrigh PDI photo and film

'No Worries' For Anderson Ahead Of Third Test

England fast bowler James Anderson was due to make a rare appearance for Lancashire this weekend before the rain intervened. While the Worcestershire batsmen may have been relieved, Anderson was keen to get back to playing having missed the second Test at Lord’s with a side strain he picked up during the first Test in Cardiff.

"It was a very minor injury and I’ve been bowling since – during that last Test I was bowling at Old Trafford," he told CricketWorld.com. "It feels fine so I’ve got no worries at the moment."

Recuperating at Old Trafford has allowed him to spend time with his county team-mates, who have been performing well, currently sitting in second place in the County Championship and the same position in the Friends Life t20 despite being thwarted by the weather.

"It’s been great to see," Anderson said of Lancashire’s early-season progress. "Obviously we started off well in the Championship and then continued that good form into the Twenty20 competition and it’s been great.

"We’ve got a really strong squad this year, we’ve had a few injuries but the guys who have come in have done really well.

"Something we pride ourselves on is bringing youngsters through and this year a couple of guys have made good progress in the first team and hopefully they can kick on in the next few years."

It is, however, with England that Anderson has really made his name as a leader of the attack and his absence at Lord’s, where England drew with Sri Lanka to retain their 1-0 series lead, was clearly visible.

Anderson was quick to justifiably point out that although the bowlers struggled at Lord’s before improving as the game wore in, the standards by which they are measured are now significantly elevated.

"I think over the last couple of years our standards have been so high as a bowling unit. We were slightly off maybe (at Lord’s) but at the same time, it was probably the one bad game we’ve had in I don’t know how many," he said.

"I think the bowling unit has been absolutely fantastic. One bad game doesn’t make the bowling attack a bad one just like that. We’ll be working hard at The Rose Bowl."

Unsurprisingly, Anderson was recalled to the 12-man squad for the third and final Test at The Rose Bowl and he is hopeful that he can help England close out the series.

"We’ll be trying to wrap up the series 2-0 and look to build on a pretty solid draw at Lord’s and hopefully, depending on conditions at The Rose Bowl, we can either seal a draw or win to take the series 2-0."

© Cricket World 2011

James Anderson was talking to Cricket World in association with Thwaites Wainwright golden ale, their leading national beer and proud sponsor of Lancashire County Cricket Club. For more information about Thwaites Wainwright and all of their beers visit www.thwaites.co.uk

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