ANDERSON'S VICE-SKIPPER FRUSTRATION

JIMMY ANDERSON says he was overlooked for the job of England vice-captain because he's a northern bowler.

The Lancashire ace was passed over as Andrew Strauss's deputy for the tour of South Africa in favour of public-school educated Essex batsman Alastair Cook.

Anderson says his Burnley roots meant he was never in the running to play second fiddle to Strauss - whose nickname is Lord Brockett.

He said: "I am gutted I didn't get the vice-captaincy.

"Captaincy is something I'd like to do. But I'm a bowler and from the north as well so I am very unlikely to ever have had a look-in."

England leave next Saturday for South Africa, where they play two Twenty20 games, four one-day internationals and four Tests against the world's top-ranked team.

And with South African-raised stars Kevin Pietersen and Jonathan Trott in the squad, Anderson is expecting a warm reception.

He said: "It's going to be very spicy and I'm sure it will be difficult for a couple of our guys who have had South African upbringings.

"They're going to have a lot of attention and get a lot of stick."

England have been written off in some quarters despite their recent Ashes triumph.

With Andrew Flintoff retired and Pietersen struggling with an achilles problem, Graeme Smith's men fancy their chances.

But Anderson, who is relishing the prospect of leading the attack, says England have enough quality to pull off a shock.

He said: "Fred will be missed but we've won series in the past without him and we're confident we can do so again."

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