England seamer James Anderson has played down his efforts of becoming the first fast bowler to claim 700 Test wickets and has instead set his sights on retaining his place in the side for upcoming Test series against the West Indies and Sri Lanka.

Anderson recently became the first pacer and just the third player overall behind Muttiah Muralitharan (800) and Shane Warne (708) to reach the 700-wicket milestone. but the 41-year-old suggested the feat meant little to him as England fell to a 4-1 series defeat in the crucial ICC World Test Championship series.

While Anderson was among England's best bowlers during the series with a total of 10 scalps at an average of 33.50 and brought up his 700th Test scalp in the final Test in Dharamsala, the right-armer admitted a hollow feeling of sorts given how badly England fell away in the backend of the five-match series.

"It was a nice moment and nice to do it at a picturesque ground," Anderson told his colleagues on BBC's Tailenders Podcast when asked about reaching 700 Test wickets.

"My dad was here so I had a drink with my dad, which was nice. He was more excited than I was.

"Maybe I would've felt more excited if we'd won the Test or the series."

While England have a break until July before they take on their next World Test Championship opponents, Anderson is ready to get back to training and work hard to try and make sure he is among the first picked when his side takes on the West Indies and Sri Lanka in the three-Test series at home this summer.

Anderson will turn 42 during the three-Test series with the West Indies in July and will be facing ongoing pressure from the likes of Mark Wood, Ollie Robinson, Josh Tongue, Chris Woakes and Gus Atkinson for spots among England's pace attack.

But Anderson was happy with how he bowled during the India series and is confident he can replicate that at home this summer if given the chance to once again lead England's bowling group.

"I'm not getting any worse," Anderson added. 

"I'm definitely in the best shape I've ever been in.

"I like where my game is at and I still have that enjoyment of turning up every day and trying to get better in the nets.

"My place in the team is not a given so I've got to work hard to prove I'm worth a place in the summer."