James Anderson: I'm trying to play with a smile on my face

James Anderson believed he had returned to nearer his best form after adding another wicket as the second day at the Ageas Bowl was marred by interruptions for rain and bad light.

Anderson took only six wickets in England’s first three Tests of the summer but, after adding the wicket of Yasir Shah, has now recorded figures of three for 48 from 24 overs in Pakistan’s first innings, as the tourists reached 223 for nine.

“I’ve felt a lot better this week – both mentally and with the ball,” Anderson said. “I had some good chats with some of the players this week and did some really good work on my technique as well, so I came in here with a bit more confidence and obviously the wickets helped.

“And I think just remembering why we play this game – it is enjoyable when you get it right. So I’ve tried to have a bit more of a smile on my face and enjoy being out there with the lads.”

Anderson, who turned 38 last month, said that he was still relishing playing for England.

“What I enjoy about bowling is putting in a shift – doing the hard yards on a good wicket and trying to outfox the batsman and go about things that way.

“I think you get more out of a day on a flat pitch having put a good shift in. That’s what I enjoy, really having to work hard to work a batsman over and get rewards for it.”

Anderson said that England’s focus should remain on picking the best possible side to win each Test, rather than be preoccupied with building for the next Ashes series, in Australia in November 2021.

“I think you should pick a bowling attack to win the game of cricket on that particular surface. Going to Australia, yeah you do maybe need something different but to be honest, a good ball’s a good ball on any wicket. You still get bounce, you still get seam movement in Australia – it’s not like we’re going somewhere completely alien to English conditions.”

Anderson said that England were developing depth in their pace bowling group, with both Jofra Archer and Mark Wood not in the XI for this Test.

“That’s something that over the next 12 months, 18 months we can keep developing and everyone can keep improving, so that we’ve got the ability to beat anyone anywhere.

“That’s what you have to have – you need strength in depth, because there will be injuries, there will be people out of form. So on any given day you need an attack that can win games.”

Anderson said that England were “pretty pleased with where we’re at,” in the second Test, despite the lack of play so far – only 86 overs have been bowled, fewer than in one full day.