James Anderson has a handy alibi for skipping his early fatherhood duties – but those ‘parenting’ skills may come in handy in the third Test too, as leader of an inexperienced England pace attack.

The Burnley-born star, 28, is happy these days to take on the extra responsibility of trying to get the best out of his fellow bowlers.

He may need to do a little overtime in Perth, with the injured Stuart Broad out of the equation and likely seam-bowling colleagues Steven Finn and Chris Tremlett boasting only 13 Tests – to Anderson’s 54 – between them.

Anderson has already been swotting up on what may be England’s best collective bowling tactics in Perth in the early hours of tomorrow, on the long flight back to Australia after his trip home to be at the birth of his second daughter Ruby.

“I feel like it’s part of my job as a bowler – and I see myself as the leader of the attack here, so it’s important I think about what went right for us in the last two games and what we can improve on for this game,” he said.

“I did plenty of that, as did the guys who were still here.

“They’ve thought about things we can improve on – we’ve spoken about it already.”

Anderson does not yet know for sure who will be joining him and the improving Finn in the England attack, alongside off-spinner Graeme Swann.

“Whoever replaces Stuart, well we’ve got three guys raring to go,” he said..

“They are all quality bowlers, and I’m sure they’ll fill Stuart’s shoes as well as they can.”