England v Sri Lanka 3rd Test: James Anderson Could Join Playing 11

James Anderson could walk back into the English playing eleven for the third and the final Test match against Sri Lanka at the Rose Bowl. Anderson had earlier been ruled out of the second game after he had limped away from the first Test with a side strain. The selectors have named Anderson in the squad for the third game in place of Jade Dernbach, which means that he could have fully recovered from his fitness woes.

Unfortunately for Anderson, the chance to prove his fitness to the selectors was washed away – literally – when rain prevented a ball from being bowled in his first class side, Lancashire's Twenty20 game versus Worcestershire. A disappointed Anderson said, “Getting my four overs of action would have helped that bit more, but unfortunately it's not to be.”

Now, it will depend on how the selectors and the management perceive Anderson’s fitness during the nets and the practice sessions before the game.

Anderson had had a decent first Test match in which he sent down almost 30 overs for his three wickets but did his side after that. He missed the second Test and was replaced by Dernbach in the squad and Steven Finn in the playing eleven.

If Anderson does come back into the playing eleven, it will mean that he will replace Finn, who did no exhibit too much control over his bowling last game. He did pick up four wickets but will need to work on his basics before he is considered a certainty in the playing eleven.

The third Test match between England and Sri Lanka will be played at Rose Bowl from June 16. The start of the day’s play will be at 1000 hours GMT on all days.