Waugh wary of England veteran Anderson

Oct 17, 2017 - 2:31 AM At 35, England quick James Anderson is in career-best form ahead of the Ashes according to Steve Waugh.

But the former national captain believes Australia's pace arsenal will prove the difference against a "fragile" England batting line-up this summer.

At an age when most speedsters consider retirement, Anderson has been tipped by Waugh to lead the way for England in the wake of the Ben Stokes controversy.

Anderson - who has a staggering 506 Test scalps - may have reached veteran status but is feeling so good that he has not ruled out playing beyond the 2021-22 Ashes until he is in his 40s.

Swing king Anderson had a baptism of fire in his first Ashes Down Under (five wickets at 82.60, 2006-07) before returning to inspire England's 3-1 series win (24 at 26.04, 2010-11).

He copped stick again in 2013-14 (14 at 43.92) but Waugh did not expect a repeat this summer.

"Anderson probably hasn't done so well in Australia where the ball doesn't swing as much, that presents a challenge for him," Waugh told AAP.

"But I think he is in career best form the way I have seen him bowl.

"And Anderson and (Stuart) Broad are an amazing opening combination.

"The big issue for them is if either of them get injured it leaves them short."

Waugh believed England would need something special from the likes of Anderson if Stokes was not available.

Vice-captain Stokes will not travel to Australia with the rest of England's squad ahead of the Ashes opener in Brisbane from November 23.

Stokes and the England cricket board are sweating on the result of a police investigation into a Bristol incident that left a man in hospital with facial injuries.

"England are in a bit of disarray with the Stokes issue," Waugh said.

"It would be unsettling for them."

While Waugh had praise for England's attack, he believed Australia's battery of Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins would prove too much for the visitors.

"They have some excellent players in Alastair Cook, Joe Root, Jonny Bairstow and Moeen Ali has really improved," Waugh said of England's batting line-up.

"But the batting is a bit fragile at the top and could be exposed by Starc, Hazlewood and Cummins."

However, Waugh's horror 1986-87 Ashes initiation taught him not to underestimate his enemy.

Unheralded opener Chris Broad - father of current Test quick Stuart - struck three tons and averaged almost 70 to inspire England's 2-1 series win.

"You don't want to underestimate anyone in Test cricket but it doesn't look as strong as previous England battling lineups," Waugh said.

"Then again it is a chance for one of their inexperienced, younger players to do well.

"In the first Ashes I lost Chris Broad hit three hundreds.

"You never want to take it for granted that the opposition are down because once you get in, the pitch is good for batting in Australia."

Source: AAP