Anderson relishing spotlight

James Anderson enjoyed leading England's makeshift attack on day two at Lord's.

Handed the responsibility of leading a makeshift England attack for the first npower Test against India, James Anderson responded in style on day two at Lord's.

The Lancashire paceman took figures of two wickets for 26 runs - those wickets being none other than Indian star duo Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid.

Making only his fifth appearance, new-ball partner Ryan Sidebottom claimed the early wicket of Dinesh Karthik, while Chris Tremlett took the scalp of Wasim Jaffer on his debut.

With England's first innings collapsing to 298 all out on a rain-affected day, the Anderson-led response reduced India to 145 for four at stumps.

Anderson has endured a scrappy Test career to date but, in the enforced absence of Andrew Flintoff, Steve Harmison and Matthew Hoggard, the 24-year-old is relishing the spotlight.

"During the one-day matches against West Indies I felt I had a bit more responsibility and really enjoyed that, and it's the same again today," he said.

"I see this is as a chance to show what form I'm in and what I can do.

"Obviously it's a pretty strong attack we've got and we'll have to see whether I can cement a place in that."

Dravid fell to an outswinger having made just two, while Tendulkar went lbw to an Anderson delivery that shaped back.

The latter's 37 still made him the third-highest scorer in Test history, but that appeared of little concern to Anderson.

"That was special," he enthused. "It was obviously a key wicket as well for us, he looked like he was in good touch so I was really pleased."

However, Anderson was not the only one performing with the ball: Shantha Sreesanth taking three of the six wickets England lost for just 25 runs earlier in the afternoon.

And, according to Streesanth, it was the unlikely figure of Sourav Ganguly who inspired his spell - the former captain's part-time medium pace claiming Alastair Cook on the opening day.

"Confidence levels were much higher and I took a really simple approach," Sreesanth said.

"I told myself not to think about the game too much or try too hard.

"I was standing at fine leg yesterday just before my second spell and saw Dada bowling and that really inspired me because he was just hitting the right areas.

"He got the first wicket and showed us the way."