I feel like a spare part

ANDERSON REVEALS FRUSTRATION AS HE’S RESTED

Jimmy Anderson spoke of his frustration after england recalled stuart Broad at his expense for tomorrow’s third and final Test in sri Lanka.

not since 2012, against West indies at edgbaston, has Anderson — the leading wicket-taker in england’s history — been rested from the Test side.

But sri Lanka’s turning pitches and oppressive heat have made seam bowling in this series close to futile. And Anderson, who sent down 41 overs for only one wicket during england’s wins at Galle and Pallekele, admitted he understood the selectors’ decision.

‘The thinking is that with the series sewn up it’s an opportunity to rotate,’ he said.

‘We’re going to the West indies as well, so there’s a view to that — they want Broady to get some Test cricket under his belt. it’s been a frustrating trip for me really, because you want to contribute to the wins. i do feel like a bit of a spare part, but that’s just the nature of playing cricket here.

‘you don’t want to miss a Test match, but i understand the reasoning behind it. But as frustrating as it is for me personally, it’s been brilliant to be part of such a great series for the team.’

With sam Curran, who has been struggling with a side injury, making way for Jonny Bairstow, who will return to the side at no 3, england are going in with only two seamers — Broad and Ben stokes — as they look to wrap up a 3-0 whitewash.

more than anything, that is a comment on the conditions that have prevailed over the past fortnight, with seamers on both sides managing a grand total of seven wickets in two Tests — four of them to sri Lanka’s suranga Lakmal — and none of england’s taking more than one.

There might even have been an undertone of ‘Good luck, stuart’ when Anderson summed up the fast bowlers’ plight.

‘The pitches have been turning square, and there’s no pace in them,’ he said.

‘you don’t feel like nicks carry, and there’s not much reverse swing. With no lateral movement in the air and nothing off the pitch, you feel like a bowling machine.’

despite his personal disappointment, Anderson — a veteran of wins in Australia, india and south Africa — was full of praise for england’s triumph here, their first series victory in sri Lanka for 17 years.

‘i think it’s right up there,’ he said. ‘it’s been a real big stepping stone for us as a team.

‘We’ve been good in parts over the last 18 months, but a bit inconsistent. There have been improvements this trip in some of the performances, like Ben Foakes coming in and Burnsy as well, plus Keaton with his hundred. There were question marks over certain positions, but we’re getting to the place now where there are a lot of options.

‘i certainly feel like in the past, previous teams might not have played as positively as we have with the bat. The message from Joe has been, go out there and play your way. Try to take the attacking option when you’ve got the chance, and that’s why you’re 2-0 up.’

even from no 11, Anderson took heed, helping add 101 for england’s 10th wicket across two innings in Pallekele, first with Curran, then with Foakes — a crucial factor in their eventual 57-run win.

‘my batting’s not been seen as important enough to be picked here,’ he joked.

once this Test gets under way on a pitch that has broken bowlers’ hearts as regularly as any surface in the world, he may allow himself another quiet smile.