James Anderson is still addicted to cricket at 40 and only getting better with age, his new-ball partner Stuart Broad said, with the prolific England pair expected to play key roles as they get ready for their ninth Ashes campaign.

Anderson appears to be improving with time and has shown no signs of losing his edge. The seamer is England’s leading bowler in Tests with 685 wickets and became the oldest player to top the ICC Test rankings earlier this year.

Anderson has said he will be fit for Thursday’s Ashes opener at Edgbaston after recovering from a groin injury. It will be Anderson’s 10th Ashes campaign and Broad said he was still champing at the bit to get going.

“Jimmy’s incredibly competitive. That’s his No.1 strength,” Broad said on the Legends of the Ashes podcast.

“He’s probably the most competitive person I’ve seen, barring Jos Buttler, in any sport that he plays. But he’s very driven. He’s an addict to cricket. He’s an addict to training, an addict to getting better, improving all the time.

“That’s showing now. He’s 40 and he’s probably bowling better now than he was four years ago. It’s an incredible testament to himself and the game.”

Broad and Anderson form the most lethal bowling partnership in Test history with a combined 1,017 wickets in 134 Tests together and England will be keen to have them bowling in tandem against Australia.

"Our job is to figure out conditions in those first 10 overs with the new ball quicker than the opposition batters," Broad stated.