HE’S part of the team which has the upper hand against Australia in the Ashes series - but fast bowler James Anderson has a second career . . . as a film producer.

For almost three years, the pace man, who became England’s all-time wicket taker earlier this year, has been executive producer on the film Warriors, a documentary about a Maasai Warrior cricket team.

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Anderson, who grew up in Burnley and early in his career played in the Lancashire League, was part of the the team which triumphed in the first test on in Cardiff and will take on the the old foe again at Lords tomorrow.

It was announced last week that Warriors is set for its premiere in London later in the summer as the film has now been completed.

On taking on the role of executive producer, Anderson said he had a long-standing interest in film making and said he was considering options for a future career.

“I’m the wrong side of 30 now so it’s time to start thinking about things to do after retirement from cricket,” he said.

Warriors is a documentary following a group of young Maasai, in a remote region of Kenya, who formed a cricket team. They relate the sport to their traditional hunting techniques - the ball is the spear, the bat is the shield.

The film follows the team as they pursue their dream of reaching England to test themselves in the Last Man Stands World Championships.

There is also a darker heart to the story. The Maasai are male-dominated. Women have few rights and girls as young as six have suffered Female Genital Mutilation (FGM). This has contributed to the spread of HIV.

The Warriors cricket team have attempted to educate young people about FGM and HIV and feel changing some of the harmful traditions is the only way to safeguard the future of their own children.

Anderson, said: “Hopefully cricket can help in a small way, draw attention to the issues they have such as AIDS and domestic abuse.”