Anderson returns to England team

Elmo Rodrigopulle reporting from England

The selectors have taken a chance and included fast bowler James Anderson in the England squad of 12 for the Third and Final Npower Test against Sri Lanka beginning at the Rose Bowl in Southampton on Friday.

Anderson who did not bowl in the Sri Lankan second innings in Cardiff where the visitors were bowled out for 82 to lose by innings, comes in and out goes Jade Dernbach who was 12th man at Lord’s.

Anderson the spearhead of the England attack was badly missed in the Lord’s Test that ended in a rain affected draw is expected to be fit, but will have to prove his fitness by playing in a Friends Life Twenty20 game for Lancashire against Worcestershire.

Anderson on whom England depend to use the new ball effectively, with his speed and menacing movement off the pitch, suffered a side strain in Cardiff. But that injury is said to be a low grade injury and heals after rest.

The England new ball bowlers – Stuart Broad, Chris Tremlett and Steven Finn were most of the time off the mark, bowling wide of the stumps on either side, and wicket keeper Matt Prior was seen diving goal-keeper style to stop balls that otherwise would have sped to the boundary as byes. England bowling coach was a very annoyed man watching the lackadaisical manner in which the England bowlers were performing and told them what he thought of their unimaginative and off line bowling.

With Anderson coming in and if he is declared fit to use the new ball, the man out is likely to be Steven Finn, who later in the Sri Lanka innings bowled better with more purpose to take four wickets.

But don’t be surprised if Stuart Broad makes way for Anderson and Finn holds his place. Broad has not been impressive with the new ball and has not been amongst the wickets, which was not to the liking of the England selectors.

The Sri Lankan batsmen who were at ease with Broad, Tremlett and Finn at Lord’s, found Anderson a difficult bowler to face in Cardiff and will find Anderson’s inclusion not to their liking.

The England 12: Andrew Strauss (c), Ian Bell, Stuart Broad, Alastair Cook, Eoin Morgan, Kevin Pietersen, Matt Prior, Chris Tremlett, James Anderson, Steven Finn, Jonathon Trott and Greame Swann.

Chelmsford, Essex, Sunday