James Anderson is confident England’s quest to retain the Ashes will not be unhinged by the same problems that resulted in them losing the number one Test ranking last summer.

England suffered a 2-0 series defeat to South Africa amid the Kevin Pietersen 'texting' controversy that resulted in the star batsman being exiled from the squad.

YouTube videos, player unrest and ultimately the retirement of skipper Andrew Strauss – who had been the subject of Pietersen's erroneous communication – all reflected a forgettable summer that undermined the work that had seen England climb to the summit of the five-day game.

Fast forward 12 months and England now appear in a much better place.

An historic series win in India heralded Alastair Cook’s arrival as skipper before a comfortable 2-0 home triumph over New Zealand ensured the reverse tour blank could be absolved.

Perhaps even most poignant of all has been the 'reintegration' of Pietersen.

The 33-year-old was painted as the misfit of the squad but his match-winning potential was on show in India and sorely missed in the Antipodes when a knee injury sent him home early.

“There is no downside at the minute. We had a really good week at Essex,” said Anderson.

“The dressing room was relaxed when it could be. It was switched on when it needed to be just before we went out into the middle and on the field. I thought we were very professional.

“Generally there is a really relaxed feel in the camp and an excitement of what is about to come.

“We are aware what that slip in form (against South Africa) did to our rankings. We are determined to put that right.”