'If I can get the consistency I can get a run in the side'

That James Anderson could not recall a better day in his Test career was hardly surprising given that he achieved a personal best in both his disciplines here. Yet he believes he can touch greater heights. "It has to be the best day of my Test career," he said. "I can't think of another one like it.

"But I have probably bowled better – against New Zealand in Wellington, perhaps, and against India at Lord's last year. But here I just got the nicks even though I did not bowl as consistently as I would have liked. But I'm definitely on the right track.

"I think I have only shown glimpses of what I can do and if I can get the consistency that I am looking for and England are looking for I can get a run in the side and become one of the leading bowlers."

Anderson might not have been in this series had Andrew Flintoff been fit but has taken the chance to make himself difficult to leave out, particularly when conditions have been in his favour. "The conditions were ideal for me here," he said. "I bowl at my best when the ball is swinging. I chatted with Ryan [Sidebottom] and [Stuart] Broady and we said that the fuller length gets wickets here, especially when it is swinging and I tend to bowl with a fuller length.

"And the Kiwis are aggressive batsmen so there is always a chance of finding the edge or of getting the dismissal."