James Anderson 'a little bit surprised' by late career spike

Anderson officially became the most prolific fast bowler in Test history recently, surpassing Glenn McGrath's tally of 563 wickets in the last game of the home series against India. Sitting pretty at 564 wickets, Anderson remains hungry for more.

What really sets him apart from most other fast bowlers is that Anderson has only become more lethal with age. What he has lost in pace, he has made up for in experience, skill, and prodigious swing.

In the last five years, Anderson has picked up 235 wickets at an outstanding average of 22.26 – significantly above his career average of 26.84. And he's still getting better – an even better average of 20.23 in the last couple of years is testament to that.

At Anderson's age, most fast bowlers are winding down, if they haven't already, and that's why Anderson's upward graph has surprised the man himself.

"Yes, I think it has (surprised me)," said Anderson. "It's not the norm for bowlers to have that sort of spike towards the back end of their careers.

"I've been a little bit surprised by it. I've really enjoyed the last couple of years. It's been a bit up and down for the team, but we seem to be making good progress at the moment."

The upcoming three-Test series against Sri Lanka, starting in Galle on 6 November, is going to be a major challenge for the England team. On Sri Lanka's dry surfaces, against quality home spinners, England's batsmen will have their task cut out. But Anderson feels their 3-1 victory in the ODI series harbours well for the visitors.

"Having seen the guys who cross over both forms of the game and the way they played in the one-day stuff, that will stand them in good stead having that sort of experience of the pitches," said Anderson.

"We have guys with the mental ability. The thing that stood Cooky out from everyone else was that in hot conditions he could bat for long, long periods of time. That's what it is going to take out here."

The series will be a big test for Anderson, who feels he hasn't quite 'cracked the code' of bowling with the Kookaburra ball. "It is a huge challenge for seam bowlers out here but when you have a good day, you get more satisfaction than bowling on a green seamer in England in April."