ENGLAND Ashes hero James Anderson says it is absolutely crucial that people fight to secure the future of local league cricket in Lancashire for the overall good of the game.

The pace ace, who came through the ranks at Burnley, believes clubs in the Lancashire League play a huge part in the development of players.

And he says his rise from Turf Moor to Test match superstar would not have been possible had it not been for the grounding he received as a youngster at Burnley.

“The leagues are paramount to the future of the game,” said Anderson. “It is especially important in Lancashire for the clubs to keep going because if it wasn’t for the leagues players just would not come through.

“Cricket is not played in schools,” added the former St Theodore’s pupil.

“I didn’t play the game at school but from a young age I was down at Burnley playing and learning the game.

“That is the way young talent is nutured, at the clubs. At every Lancashire League club you will see kids down at the nets, they are getting cricket and alot of them will progress through the ranks.

“And that is why the clubs need supporting.”

Anderson, who made his comeback from a side strain for Lancashire in the Twenty20 match at Worcestershire yesterday, is delighted that his old team-mate and current Surrey opener Michael Brown has taken over as chairman of Burnley – and believes that could go a long way to secure the future of the club.

“It’s brilliant what Browny has done,” said Anderson. “He is putting something back and with him, his brother David, Jon Clare and myself we can do something for them and hopefully raise the club’s profile to a wider area a little bit more.

“Without clubs like Burnley and Lowerhouse and the rest of the area’s sides the kids just would not het the chance to play cricket.

“And if they don’t get that chance then they have no chance of carrying on.

“I wouldn’t be where I am now if it had not been for Burnley – and the next stars could be on their way through now.”