JIMMY Anderson has learnt his lesson from his boozy night in St Lucia. The Lancashire bowler was plastered all over the front of the tabloids last month after being pictured drinking until the early hours in a nightclub just 36 hours before England's World Cup clash with Canada.

While Old Trafford team-mate Andrew Flintoff was stripped of the vice-captaincy and dropped for the match having been fished out of the sea after falling off a pedalo at 4am, Anderson was allowed to play against Canada but had to cough up a fine.

"It was a big mistake," said the 24-year-old.

"We were disciplined in the way we should have been at the time and a line was drawn under it although it has pretty much been forgotten about now.

"I learnt from it and it definitely won't be happening again."

The Burnley Express bounced back and was one of England's best bowlers during their World Cup campaign, a display which looks set to cement his place in the side for this summer's two Test series against West Indies and India.

But it still wasn't enough to stop the side failing to reach the semi-finals with a string of disappointing displays.

England's poor show resulted in Duncan Fletcher's resignation as coach, but Anderson (pictured left) admits it was down to the players.

Improvement

"There have been a few areas where we haven't really clicked," he said. "The batting hasn't really got going and, although I think we have bowled reasonably well, there has been room for improvement.

"I just don't think we have clicked as a team and in a tournament like this you need to be in pretty good form throughout the whole competition.

"I think possibly the winter has taken its toll. You can read a lot into it but really we have had quite a lot of players out of form and it is just unfortunate it has come at this time."

Despite the team disappointment, Anderson has been pleased with his own form.

Having looked good during the Ashes tour to Australia, he had to fly home early with what looked like an occurrence of the back injury which kept him out for almost all of last season. But it improved with rest, and now Anderson feels he is bowling as well as he ever has done.

"The rest at the end of the tour to Australia has done me good and my back has been pretty good, all the way through the World Cup it is getting better and better," he added.

"At the start I was a little bit stiff and couldn't really get my pace up but towards the end that pace was coming back.

"I will continue to work on strengthening my back throughout the summer. I feel I have bowled as well as I have done for some time, but I haven't got the wickets to show for it. Now I just have to continue this form."

What do you think was behind England's failure? Have your say.

CHRIS Ostick flew to Barbados courtesy of bmi. Book between May 3-17 to travel in May, June, September and October and take advantage of fares from as little as £329 (return and including taxes). Tweet