Pakistan are really playing well these days and have a number of young, exciting players and we expect a tough battle: Anderson. -Photo by AFP

LONDON: England fast bowler James Anderson expects a ferocious and heated battle with Pakistan next month as his side attempts to confirm their world No. 1 status.

The Sun quoted Anderson, 29, England’s premier fast bowler, as saying: “It was quite a spicy affair when Pakistan came to England last year. There’s definitely history there.” He added: “I’m not sure that the spot-fixing business will make a difference — it would have been a battle anyway because of the rivalry.

“Test cricket is not very friendly these days. There will be tension but I don’t think it will be caused by the spot-fixing. It will be just because we are two competitive sides.

“There will be a lot of talk about the court case before we leave so it will be up to us to ignore it as much as possible,” Anderson said.

“They (Pakistan) are really playing well these days and have a number of young, exciting players. So we expect a tough battle on neutral venue (UAE),” he said.

“We want to stay No. 1. We seem to be a tough test at home but we really need to dominate away as well.”—Agencies