Fit-again Anderson shoulders the burden

England may have been under the pump for almost the entire opening day of this second Test against India but the sight of James Anderson running in and bowling somewhere close to his best bodes well for the rest of the series.

Anderson, his country's all-time leading wicket-taker in Tests, was close to being ruled out of the entire winter when a shoulder injury sustained in the first half of the northern summer flared up again during the final Test against Pakistan at The Oval in August.

The 34-year-old had not played any competitive cricket since then before his return ahead of schedule in Visakhapatnam after three months out.

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A few weeks ago the most optimistic medical predictions gave the leader of England's attack an outside chance of being fit for the fourth Test against India in Mumbai next month.

Although different to the shoulder problem that has plagued South Africa's Dale Steyn and cut short his involvement in the current series against Australia, Anderson's injury – a fractured bone in his right shoulder blade – was unusual enough for England's medics to be highly cautious over rushing him back.

However, he worked himself to a standstill in the nets back at home after originally being left out of the squad for this tour.

Then, after arriving in India just 12 days ago, proved his fitness to coach Trevor Bayliss and captain Alastair Cook and got the nod to play in this Test ahead of Chris Woakes.

England were glad for Anderson's hard work in getting himself back to full fitness, too, as he took the wickets of Murali Vijay, Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane to give his side a sliver of hope in this match.

Centuries from India captain Virat Kohli and Pujara during a 226-run third-wicket stand helped the hosts close day one on a commanding 4-317 after they took full advantage of winning the toss and batting first.

It's days like these that make visiting seam bowlers wish they were somewhere, anywhere, else other than India.

Anderson, though, proved his desire to still compete at the highest level by going the extra mile and forced his way onto a tour other bowlers might have preferred to miss.

"It was great to be back," he said. "I have spent the last two months working really hard to get back into the side. It's been frustrating at times but it's been worth it.

"Getting back out there with the lads was a great feeling in itself but to get a few wickets on the board made it even better.

"I have missed it, I have missed playing and taking wickets. That sort of feeling you can't get in any other walk of life – at least I struggle with it – so to get amongst and get some wickets meant a lot.

"I always thought I would get out here for some part of it, but it was a surprise to a lot of people I got out here this early.

"That's just the way it's turned out and I'm happy. It's kind of just gone really well. The rehab has gone well, when I came back to bowling I progressed really quickly. They thought it would take time get back to full pace but it took me less time and that's why I came back."

 If Anderson's desire and hunger to carry on taking Test wickets despite the fact he already has 466 of them says anything it is that he is not planning on retirement any time soon.

That might be bad news for Australia ahead of next year's Ashes series, with the Lancashire bowler perhaps seeing one last swansong in Australia as the perfect way to end his glittering international career.

There's a long way to go before then, of course, and Anderson's recent injury problems means there are no guarantees his body will hold out until then.

But if his work over the past few weeks tell you anything then it is he would probably travel to Australia on one leg if he had to.