England left James Anderson out of their 12-man squad announced yesterday for the third and final Test against the West Indies at Edgbaston starting on Thursday.
The England selectors insisted the 29-year-old Lancashire star was being omitted to “overcome several minor injury niggles” rather than being rested on grounds of squad rotation. Steven Finn and Graham Onions will compete to fill the place left vacant by Anderson’s absence.
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However, in a move that could cause a rift between the England hierarchy and the bowler, Anderson himself insisted he was fit to play in his Sunday newspaper column. “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,” Anderson said in his column.u00a0