Jimmy Anderson is fresh and ready fire England to No 1 in the world rankings. Having helped maintain Lancashire’s bid for the LV= County Championship, the Ashes hero has re-joined the Three Lions as they prepare to take on Sri Lanka in the first Test, which starts in Cardiff on Thursday.

Having been the leading wicket-taker in the historic win over Australia Down Under, a fatigued Anderson struggled in the following one-day series and was dropped for the final two games of the World Cup campaign.

However, he insists he is now raring to go as third-ranked England prepare for a busy summer, which includes a four Test series with current No 1 side India, as well as the three against Sri Lanka.

“It is an important summer for us, we have to kick-on from the Ashes win,” said the 28-year-old, who is third in the world Test bowling rankings.

“Sri Lanka are a good side, a dangerous side. Everyone is going to have to be in good form.

“But it is hugely important that we progress after the Ashes. We want to be the number one team in the world.

“Sri Lanka and India are among the best sides at the moment so it is going to be difficult for us.

“But, hopefully, playing in English conditions will swing it in our favour.

“I bowled a big spell in the Championship match against Yorkshire on Saturday, which could have taken a lot out of me but I felt fine after it.

“I have felt fresh throughout the two games I played for Lancs, so the rest after the World Cup and the Ashes has done me good.”

Anderson’s former Old Trafford team-mate Stuart Law is now coach of Sri Lanka, so he knows what to expect from the bowler.

The tourists have started well, beating the Lions earlier this week, thanks mainly to big centuries from openers Tharanga Paranavitana and Tillakaratne Dilshan.

And Lancashire’s overseas player Farveez Maharoof, who could now be facing Anderson after being called into the Sri Lanka squad, believes their battle with the Red Rose bowler could be key to the series.

“It is early summer so some of the Sri Lanka guys are getting to know the conditions in England, they haven’t played a Test series over here for a while,” said Maharoof, who has played 20 Test matches.

“Jimmy is a class bowler. He has been bowling well and it will be a good battle between him and the Sri Lankan top order.”

England go into the series with most of the players having scored runs or taken wickets.

“Everyone has been in form for a few months now, no-one has had a shocking run in form,” said Anderson.

“As a bowler, it is great to see all the batsmen in the team getting runs. It is good to have such quality batsmen in the side.”

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