Yet his failure to live up to his billing as the best swing bowler in the world when it most mattered at Lord's was an indication, as much as anything, of his severe workload that is exacerbated by the retirement of Graeme Swann.
Anderson looked out on his feet at Lord's and has the threat of suspension for the last two Tests of the series hanging over him so England must decide whether to utilise him now or take him out of the firing line.
Broad simply did not look fit at Lord's, where he had perhaps his worst Test for England for many a year, and clearly the knee injury that has restricted his potency will need an operation sooner rather than later.
Yet he is a fighter and both wants and expects to play in the first ever Test in England to start on a Sunday, a move which has seriously hampered Hampshire's chances of cashing in on only their second Test at this purpose-built ground.
‘Mentally I've come round to the fact I was closer than I thought at the time because my cricket has progressed quickly,' said the softly-spoken Buttler. ‘Test cricket is going to be completely different but this year I've been scoring more runs in the championship and everything's been going well.'
