A series where plenty of attention has been given to absent West Indies players concludes with the focus on England resting spearhead seamer James Anderson from the third Test here at Edgbaston, beginning on Thursday.
In rising to number one in the world Test rankings, England have rested players along the way — Anderson missed the 2010 tour of Bangladesh. The difference now is that the Lancashire star doesn’t want a break.
But the concern for England is the sheer amount of cricket they have left this season — four Tests (three against South Africa who will be challenging them for top spot in the rankings), 14 one-day internationals and four Twenty20s. And then comes the defence of their World Twenty20 title in Sri Lanka and a Test tour of India.
England, 2-0 up in the three-match series, do have capable seam bowling reserves in Steven Finn and Graham Onions and both could be in the side if the selectors opt to give Anderson’s new-ball partner Stuart Broad a rest also.
Anderson had made it clear he wanted to play at Edgbaston but England coach Andy Flower insisted now was the right time for him to take a breather.