Anderson enjoying pressure without Ashes heroes

LONDON, July 21 (Reuters) James Anderson suggested the absence of England's Ashes-winning bowling attack may have helped him perform so well against India today when he claimed his career best test figures of five for 42.

Anderson was instrumental in India's collapse from 145 for four to 201 all out. England had an overall lead of 174 by the end of the third day of the first test at Lord's with eight second innings wickets remaining.

Without the injured Andrew Flintoff, Steve Harmison and Matthew Hoggard as well as the other two bowlers that featured in the 2005 Ashes win, Ashley Giles and Simon Jones, Anderson has reacted well to being the most experienced bowler on show.

''Yeah, possibly, during the one-day series against West Indies (when none of the experienced bowlers played) it felt like I had a bit more responsibility and I really enjoyed that,'' Anderson told reporters.

''I just carried it on in this game,'' he added, after taking his third five-wicket haul in tests but the first for four years since the year he made his debut.

Lancashire's Anderson, 25 this month, is playing his first home test in three years and the combination of being the most experienced bowler and technical improvements have helped him.

He said: ''I have done a lot of work on my action over the last few years with (former bowling coach) Troy Cooley and have tinkered with it myself also, while I have spoken to (current bowling coach) Allan Donald as well.'' India batsman Wasim Jaffer preferred to stay positive about the match outcome, telling reporters: ''They are in a good position but the wicket's doing a lot.

REUTERS DH PM0245