Anderson raring to go by CricketArchive Staff Reporter

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Player:	JM Anderson, A Flintoff, MS Panesar
Event:	Australia in British Isles 2009

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DateLine: 3rd July 2009

 

James Anderson is relishing his chance to make his mark on the Ashes after waiting nearly eight years.

 

The 26-year-old right-arm pacer first got a taste of the Ashes when he was called into the English squad during the 2002-03 tour for the one-day series. He then stayed with the squad but could not feature in any game.

 

The he was called up again for the final Test of the 2005 series but England preferred Paul Collingwood, and it was not until the dismal 2006-07 tour that Anderson played three unsuccessful Tests against Australia.

 

But since then the Lancashire seamer has developed into a key player for England and all their Ashes strategic plans would be made keeping him central to the plot.

 

"I think we just want to get started really," admitted Anderson. "The hype has been going on for so long now and we just want to get started.

 

"I hope it is my time. I'm concentrating on my job which is to swing the ball and take early wickets to make as many inroads as possible in their top six or seven - I'm not thinking about how many Ashes I have played."

 

Anderson warmed up with a brilliant spell of fast bowling claiming five for 34 against Warwickshire. The county side were dismissed for a lowly 102 in England's only practice match before the start of the series.

 

The other English bowlers who looked encouraging were Andrew Flintoff who picked up two wickets sparing 16 runs and Monty Panesar also emerged from a difficult start to the 2009 summer to grab three for 10.

 

Flintoff's return to the side following his recent knee operation will inevitably lead to a reduction in status for Anderson, who has led the attack in his absence, but he is happy to share the billing with his Lancashire teammate.

 

"If you have someone like Fred in your team it is hard not to give him the ball when you need something to happen," added Anderson.

 

"He's stepped up in the past and I've done it in last couple of series, and I think it would be nice for Straussy (captain Andrew Strauss) if we are both on top of our games to choose between us.

 

"As everybody saw in this match, he brings something different. We were guessing in the field that he must have been pushing 90mph so it's fantastic to get him back and bowling aggressively."