Seamer Stuart Broad and batsman Jonny Bairstow have been named in England’s XI for this month’s third and final Test against Sri Lanka in Colombo.

Fast bowler James Anderson has been rested, while all-rounder Sam Curran has been sidelined by injury.

‘The thinking is that with the series sewn up, it’s an opportunity to rotate. The management wants Broad to get some Test cricket under his belt before,’ said Anderson.

The 36-year-old took only one wicket across four innings in Galle and Pallekele, but England secured an unassailable two-nil series lead, regardless.

‘It has been a frustrating trip for me really because you want to contribute to the wins. But I feel like I’ve tried my best, but it’s not really been a series for the seamers,’ he added.

‘You go into the games with the best intentions and try and work hard in the nets and make sure you’ve got all the skills you need to get wickets out here.

‘But the opportunities for me to bowl in games have been fairly limited. Bowling a seven-over spell in Kandy, which I thought I bowled pretty well with the second ball. Apart from that, the opportunities have been limited and it is frustrating in a way.’

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