Stuart Broad is set to replace James Anderson in the England XI for the third and final Test against Sri Lanka starting Friday (November 23) in Colombo. England have already won the series with victories in the first two Tests, giving them an opportunity to rotate their players.
“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.”
Anderson picked only one wicket from four innings in the series, having bowled 41 overs without much help from the pitches or the Kookaburra ball. He conceded that the series was frustrating on a personal front, and was looking forward to bowling with the Dukes ball again in the West Indies.
“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.”
