By Scott Heinrich

England and Lancashire are doing all they can to ensure James Anderson does not become affected by his meteoric rise to fame.

Anderson's story is the stuff of fairytales.

Anderson's mentors want to him to keep his feet on the ground

The 20-year-old paceman from Burnley was a mere club cricketer a year ago, yet today he is his country's main spearhead and the toast of English cricket.

Already touted as the man to watch this summer, his five-wicket haul on debut against Zimbabwe will have done nothing to deflect attention away from him.

What is more, his natural good looks and distinctive hairstyle have prompted some observers to dub him the David Beckham of cricket, a sport crying out for a young figurehead.

It is hype enough to turn precocious genius into wasted talent overnight, and Anderson's mentors want to ensure he does not fall victim to his own publicity.

"He's aware of the pitfalls," stressed Lancashire coach Mike Watkinson.

"We've sat down with him and gone through all the problems and I believe he has the temperament to come through.

People must remember James is going to have days when he is successful and days when he isn't England head selector David Graveney

"He's smart enough to realise what can go wrong, that you can be built up and just as quickly knocked down.

"He's come a long way in a short time, but he has a solid background, a close family involved in local cricket and he has developed through all the representative age groups and that's a good grounding.

"He appreciates that he has to stay focused, not get pulled in the wrong direction and to keep doing what he knows is right.

"I just hope that no-one expects him to fill Darren Gough's boots immediately."

England share Lancashire's concerns.

National selectors have viewed Anderson as a potential star ever since he was called into the one-day squad in Australia last winter as cover for an injured Andrew Caddick.

Anderson's stocks rose rapidly when he routed Pakistan in the World Cup

He was ultra-impressive during that series, claiming 1-12 in Adelaide to record the most economical figures ever against Australia.

He was subsequently selected in the World Cup squad, performing impressively against Pakistan in Cape Town.

"James will hopefully have a long and successful career for England, but what people must remember is he is going to have days when he is successful and days when he isn't," warned chairman of selectors David Graveney.

"Let's hope we don't get into the English habit of building a young player up only to knock him down again.

"But from what I've seen of him so far, he's a very impressive young man.

"I've seen him do television and radio interviews and he always seems to handle them very well.

"But the people around him are going to have to look after him and that applies to Lancashire as well as England."