Cricket: James Anderson frustrated as England selectors take opportunity to give him a break

James Anderson will be cast into the role of frustrated onlooker for this week’s third Investec Test against West Indies after England’s selectors opted to rest him for the dead rubber at Edgbaston.

Anderson’s exclusion had been expected after England had hinted at a desire to rotate their seamers amid a busy summer schedule. With England’s No 1 Test status on the line in the three-Test series South Africa from next month, and limited-overs series against West Indies and Australia to come before then, Anderson has been put in cotton wool.

It is a scenario the 29-year-old right-armer admitted he would not be happy with before an otherwise unchanged 12-man squad was announced yesterday morning.

Anderson declared himself fully fit to play, undermining suggestions he had struggled with a quad strain during the series-clinching nine-wicket win at Trent Bridge last week, and claimed he had already had enough rest time between matches.

“It would be extremely disappointing for me to miss out,” he told a Sunday newspaper.

“It would be different if I felt fatigued or was struggling with an injury, but I believe I am fit to play – and while I am fit to play I want to play in every England game I can.

“Resting players is going to happen more and more often as the schedule gets busier and the ECB has been excellent at monitoring players to keep them fit and ready. Sure, this series has been hard work – back-to-back Tests always are – but that’s what we are used to and have to deal with the world over. But five days of rest is more than enough to be ready to play again.

“This winter, I was rested for the one-day series in India, Steve Finn bowled out of his skin and kept his place for the one-dayers in Dubai. Had Tim Bresnan not been injured for those, would I have got my place back?”

Anderson has missed just one of England past 25 Tests, since he was rested for the 2010 tour of Bangladesh, and as leader of the attack has inspired his side’s rise to the top Test ranking. But despite the Lancastrian’s apparent protests national selector Geoff Miller said his omission had been made in his “best interests”.

“James Anderson will miss this Investec Test as we look to manage his workload ahead of a busy period of cricket this summer and beyond, a decision which is in the best interests of the team and James himself,” he said.

“We have been made to work hard for our two victories so far and are delighted to have secured the series. However, we know that we will need to continue to play some good cricket if we want a third win against the West Indies this week.”

A depth in talent in the fast bowling stocks has ensured England will remain favourites to continue their winning ways and whitewash the Windies, with either Finn or Graham Onions to step into the team. Both understudies could yet be called into action, though, with England to decide on whether to also give Stuart Broad time off.

The 25-year-old arguably faces a more hectic schedule than Anderson this year as a fixture in all three formats, while he also has the added responsibility of captaining England’s Twenty20 team ahead of their title defence in Sri Lanka immediately after the summer.