Veteran pacer James Anderson is open to fill vice-captain’s shoes if he asked to do so for the upcoming Ashes series. England is short of their regular vice-skipper Ben Stokes, who has been suspend by the England and Wales Cricket Board post his furious fight outside a nightclub in Bristol.

Anderson on Monday told reporters that he will do this role if asked, though admitted that such thing had never crossed his mind, “vice-captaincy is not something I have really thought about to be honest,” he said.

However, when asked whether he will accept it or not, he chirped in quickly, “Of course not, I wouldn’t. Certainly over the past few years I have seen my role in the team as being a leader, especially with the young bowlers coming in, I try and help out where I can.”

James is one of the most senior players in the English dressing room along with former skipper Alastair Cook and Stuart Broad.

“That is part and parcel as a senior player who has played over 100 Tests, to be a leader. Myself and Stuart try and lead the bowling attack, Alastair has been captain. We have a nice leadership group,” he added.

“My experience as a senior player is to bring experience to the group. Myself, Alastair, Stuart Broad all bring experience to the group and our job is to help out where we can. There’s a lot of players on this tour that haven’t played an Ashes series or toured Australia. Our job is to help out.”

The 35-year-old is the leading wicket-taker for England in the Test cricket with over 500 scalps and forms a lethal bowling pair with Broad, who is behind him in this list. Both players would love to stretch their dominance with the new ball in Australia as well, where they have landed to play a five-match Test series starting from November 23 in Brisbane.