Anderson eyes batting improvement

James Anderson is hoping a greater focus on his batting could ensure an extended run in England’s Test side despite the intense competition among the country’s leading seamers.

The 25-year-old Lancashire seamer is enjoying his longest run in England’s Test side since his debut season four years ago with the selectors sticking to the same line-up for the fifth successive Test.

But as they prepare for this week’s opening npower Test against South Africa at Lord’s, Anderson knows the pressure for places is about to increase with the imminent return of all-rounder Andrew Flintoff from a recent side strain injury.

Flintoff joins a list of seamers all straining to earn recalls including Matthew Hoggard, Steve Harmison, Simon Jones, Liam Plunkett and Sajid Mahmood and is expected to feature again as soon as he gains more match practice with Lancashire.

Facing such intense competition, Anderson believes his improving technique as a lower order batsman - which included scoring a career best 28 in the first innings against New Zealand at Trent Bridge last month - can swing the vote in his favour.

James Anderson is aiming to improve his all-round contribution for England

“With all the other guys knocking on the door for the bowling spots, if I can offer some runs as well hopefully that’s going to give me another tick in the box and one day it might give me the edge over someone else,” admitted Anderson.

“I know I’ve got a bit of ability with the bat. I’m not kidding myself I’m going to go out and get hundreds but if I can chip in with runs down the order and stick around with someone like Stuart (Broad) then it’s all good for the team.”

Anderson contributed to a 76-run eighth wicket partnership with Broad in Nottingham having been promoted up the order to number nine while Ryan Sidebottom was having treatment on a back problem.

It inspired his best batting display for England and Anderson believes it proved he can deliver if given the chance to bat higher than his normal position at number 11.

“I was lucky enough to bat at number nine at Trent Bridge because Ryan had a problem and I wanted to use it as an opportunity to show what I can actually do,” explained Anderson.

“You do have a different mindset when you come out to bat as a number 11 and nobody really expects you to get runs and sometimes you start thinking that way yourself. More recently I’ve been trying to approach my innings as a batsman, getting a different mindset and that’s helped me.”

Anderson and the rest of the 12-man England squad will train, weather permitting, at Lord’s on Tuesday with the selectors facing a decision on whether to retain an unchanged line-up or include Hampshire seamer Chris Tremlett for the first time since last summer.

If England decide to retain the same XI for the sixth successive match on Thursday it will be the first time in Test history a side has remained unchanged for six consecutive Tests.