James Michael Anderson

Profile:

2002 was an annus mirabilis for rookie Lancashire and England paceman Jimmy Anderson, with the promise of much more to come in 2003. Having started the year playing for Burnley in the Lancashire League, he ended it with two one-day international caps and a place in England's 2003 World Cup squad.

Anderson made his first-class debut against Surrey in the County Championship at Old Trafford. Reserved by Lancashire very much for Championship matches during the 2002 campaign, Anderson made a substantial impact, his return of 46 wickets in 11 games helping to preserve the county's First Division status. His best return (6-41) came against Somerset at Blackpool, and the seven wickets he took in a losing cause during the televised Roses match in August brought him to the attention of many media pundits. He played only two Norwich Union League games, his best return (3-42) coming under lights against Hampshire at Old Trafford.

Having played a total of only 13 first-class and 4 one-day matches, he won a place in Rod Marsh's England Academy squad for 2002. He never completed the initial term, as he was chosen to reinforce England's one-day squad after an extraordinary spate of injuries to more senior pacemen Gough, Jones, Caddick, Flintoff, Tudor and Silverwood.

Anderson initially considered himself a medium pacer - but began to bowl fast at around the age of 17 and found that he had natural pace. County captain Warren Hegg believes him to be one of the quickest bowlers on the circuit. It is the way that the young Burnley bowler has seized his opportunities that has impressed so many.

Anderson's international debut came against the mighty Australians in the VB Series, where figures of 1-46 don't reflect the fact that he was in no way overawed or outclassed. He hurried the best batting side in the world with his brisk pace, and claimed the wicket of Adam Gilchrist as his first international scalp. He built on this initial performance by containing the dangerous Sri Lankans at Perth, bowling to a plan and claiming the valuable wicket of Sanath Jayasuriya with a well-disguised slower ball. His figures of 2-48 confirmed his arrival on the international scene, and went a long way to ensuring his place in England's 2003 World Cup squad.