"I don't think he'll let anybody down if he's asked to do the job," said Lancashire's Mike Watkinson.

"He's been very steady this season, perhaps not as spectacular as he was in his early days but he's been given the new ball and been pretty dependable."

Anderson, 23, and all-rounder Paul Collingwood have been named as cover for Jones in the 13-man England squad.

The England players were gathering in London on Monday after having a few days break.

Jones was continuing to have treatment on his ankle problem and will be put through a rigorous bowling test on Tuesday.

Anderson burst onto the international scene in Australia in 2002, when he was pulled out of the England Academy to join the one-day side as injury cover.

He has played 12 Tests since, but has not built on that early potential, when he was able to gain late swing at good pace.

He took just two wickets in conceding 149 runs in his last Test appearance, replacing an injured Jones in Johannesburg in January.

This year he is Lancashire's leading wicket-taker in first-class cricket with 51, but at an average of 31.80.

"He had a rapid rise to the top in his early days," Watkinson told BBC Radio Five Live.

"And in recent times he's eased out of the picture to concentrate on county cricket and do more of that apprenticeship that he missed in the early days.

"He's in good form at the moment and I think he'll be fine.

Watkinson, an England assistant coach in the past, pointed out that Anderson still holds an England central contract.

And he believes the 23-year-old has always been part of the national side's long-term plans.

"One thing Jimmy has got is a big-match temperament, which we've seen [when he was] a youngster thrown onto the international stage," he added.

"The brief was: Go away, play some county cricket, you're still a centrally-contracted player, still in our thoughts and we'll bring you back in when we think the time's right.

"Perhaps this is the right time."