Anderson's desire gives fresh hope to England

Six months ago you could have named your own price on Stephen Harmison and James Anderson leading England's bowling attack in the World Cup. However, six weeks away from the biggest tournament in cricket, it is a distinct possibility. That this pair of young fast bowlers are even in the frame indicates just how stretched England's resources are but, following encouraging performances against Sri Lanka in Brisbane, they are now in possession of a place in the side. If they continue to bowl as well as they did on Tuesday, they can expect their names to be in the final 15 for South Africa.

Harmison, the Durham fast bowler, has been impressing people around the county circuit for quite a while but Anderson, from Lancashire, has burst on to the scene in the last six months. Born in Burnley, the 20-year-old took 46 wickets in the 11 games he played in his first season of first-class cricket. These performances won him a place at the national academy in Adelaide, from where he was called up when Andrew Caddick's knee started giving him some trouble.

"Everything has gone really well," Anderson said. "It's only 18 months ago that I was struggling to get into the [Lancashire] second team. It was mainly down to my confidence but I spent a long time talking with Mike Watkinson [the Lancashire coach] and he helped me to come out of that. It's been a whirlwind ever since and it's hard to take everything in at once."

During England's first win of their Ashes tour the highlight was Anderson's dismissal of the Sri Lankan captain Sanath Jayasuriya. There are few more intimidating opponents in one-day cricket than Jayasuriya and to have dismissed the left-hander as he did, with a beautifully disguised slower ball, sent his captain Nasser Hussain, who took the resulting catch, into raptures.

It was not just the one delivery that so excited Hussain but the fact that the previous five balls had been pitched exactly where he wanted them to be, which is more than can be said for most of England's other bowling this winter. In frustration at not being able to get the previous deliveries away, Jayasuriya was forced into a false shot and chipped a simple catch to mid-off. From then on England had control of the match and went on to win by 43 runs.

Describing the moment, Hussain said: "I was overjoyed with the young bowler's performance in that over and in the two overs before that. He [Jayasuriya] is one of the hardest players in world cricket to bowl at, so for the young lad to bowl in the first 15 overs [when fielding restrictions are in place] and have four overs for 15 runs was exceptional."

Things did not quite go according to plan on Anderson's debut against Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Sunday, but having Adam Gilchrist, another of the most feared one-day and Test batsmen in the world, and Jayasuriya as your first two scalps is not a bad way to start your international career.

"It is everyone's dream to play cricket for England but to make your debut at the MCG is something special," Anderson said. "I was a bit nervous walking out in front of such a big crowd. I've never played in front of anything like that before. The most I had played in front of was about 2,000.

"I was also a bit daunted about bowling at Gilchrist and Matthew Hayden on my debut but whatever game I play in I try not to think who I am bowling against. I think of them as just another batter."

One of the most encouraging signs about Anderson, other than that he looks an athlete and has the ability to aggressively pitch the ball in the right area, is that he did not appear overawed by the occasion. Nerves can be good for you as long as you can still keep your control and having played in front of 40,000 Australians on that ground I can tell you it is no mean achievement on debut. With its high stands, one of which holds 48,000, it is like playing in a colosseum. To come out unscathed is a good sign.

"Having played for England now, which is something I have wanted to do all my life, I want to carry on playing as long as possible at this level," Anderson said.

Such words – as long as they are from the heart, which one feels they are with him – are music to a captain and a coach. It is way too early to say that he is going to be the next... whoever, but with a good head and the right people around him he has an exciting future.

This will start tomorrow afternoon here at the WACA, the fastest pitch in the world. In another day-night encounter, England will attempt to inflict more misery on Sri Lanka knowing that a victory would almost ensure qualification for the finals of the triangular series in mid-January. This would be the best Christmas present Hussain could have wished for.