Anderson focused on top ranking

England pace spearhead James Anderson sees this week's final Test against Sri Lanka as an important step in their bid for the top spot in the world rankings.

Anderson has returned to England's squad following the slight side strain he suffered in the first Test win at Cardiff and is expected to play in what is the first-ever Test at Hampshire's Rose Bowl home. England lead the three-match series 1-0 and so only need to avoid defeat in order to win the series.

"Our main aim is to be number one in the world so to do that we have to win as many Test matches as possible," Anderson told Sky Sports News.

"That means getting series wins as well so we've been in good form, we've been pretty dominant in England and that's something we want to try to push on with. If we do avoid defeat it'll be a good series win and another step towards that number one spot."

Anderson's likely return would boost an attack which struggled to make inroads in the second Test at Lord's, with a samey pace trio of man-mountain Chris Tremlett and the gangly Stuart Broad and Steven Finn lacking control and penetration.

Anderson acknowledged those failings but retains faith in the squad approach which has seen England develop strength in depth in their pace attack, particularly during the winter's Ashes success.

He said: "We didn't bowl as well as we'd have liked over the last five days, but certainly over the last couple of years we've been fantastic with the ball so it's just about getting back to what's made us so successful in the last couple of years.

"It showed in Australia that you need that strength in depth, it's crucial because from a bowler's point of view your next injury could be just around the corner."