James Anderson is to be replaced by Stuart Broad in the England team for the final Test of the series against Sri Lanka in Colombo.
With England having taken an unassailable 2-0 lead in Kandy, they are taking the opportunity to rest Anderson and give Broad a run with a view to matches later in the winter.
“The thinking is that, with the series sewn up, it’s an opportunity to rotate,” Anderson said. “The management want Broady to get some Test cricket under his belt before we go to the West Indies.”
With England’s next Test, in Barbados, more than two months away, it is debatable what benefit Broad will derive from the match, but it is unlikely to be the only change in the England side. While Sam Curran has not been officially ruled out, it seems the side strain he sustained in Kandy will force him to sit out the game, too. He did not net with the rest of the squad on Wednesday, but did some fitness tests.
While the closest like-for-like option for Curran would be Chris Woakes, it may be that England consider playing an extra batsman instead. The third seamer in Kandy, Ben Stokes, bowled only one over in the match, while Anderson was the only seamer to bowl in the second innings. Jonny Bairstow could, therefore, make a swift return to the side and perhaps become England’s fourth No. 3 of the series.
The other option would be to give fast bowler Olly Stone a Test debut. While the pitch in Colombo is unlikely to offer much assistance to Stone, his pace through the air could still be an asset and the management may like to see how he handles the pressures of playing at the highest level ahead of selection for the Caribbean tour.
The decision to bring in Broad ends a tour that Anderson described as “frustrating.” He has taken only one wicket – and that with his second ball of the series – and, despite his best efforts, found it hard to coax any life out of the pitches or the Kookaburra ball. He is, therefore, delighted to hear that the Duke’s ball is to be used in the Caribbean series.
“It’s been a frustrating trip for me really because you want to contribute to the wins,” Anderson said. “But I feel like I’ve tried my best but it’s not really been a series for the seamers.
“You go into the games with the best intentions and try and work hard in the nets and make sure you’ve got all the skills you need to get wickets out here. But the opportunities for me to bowl in games have been fairly limited. Bowling a seven-over spell in Kandy, which I thought I bowled pretty well with the second ball. Apart from that, the opportunities have been limited and it is frustrating in a way.
“One thing that playing out here has really made me look forward to is getting a Duke’s back in my hand. Sometimes, when the conditions are more seamer friendly, you have to do a lot more bowling and you can take it for granted. Playing out here makes you appreciate it a bit more.”
Despite his personal frustrations, Anderson has enjoyed being part of a series win and feels the side has taken a significant step forward.
“I think the improvements we’ve made and continue to make have really shown this trip,” he said. “Ben Foakes and Rory Burns have come in and done really well. Keaton Jennings, too.
“I certainly feel that, in the past, previous [England] teams might not have played as positively as we have with the bat. The message from Joe Root has been go out and play your way. Be confident. This win is right up there and a real big stepping stone for us as a team.”