After surpassing Australian legend Glenn McGrath to become the most successful pace bowler in the history of Test cricket with 564 scalps, and leading England to a 4-1 series victory over India, a winter rest and battery recharge seemed like the obvious option for James Anderson.
Mummerings and whispers in around cricket press boxes had suggested as much, with reports claiming the 36-year-old swing king and his seam partner Stuart Broad would be spared and given time off by the England and Wales Cricket Board, hence missing the upcoming three-Test series against Sri Lanka in November.
It was a viable move given the nature of slow and batting-friendly tracks in the subcontinent while you can also add in the fact the series as a whole is not or will never be the biggest on England’s radar.
But, on Friday, England’s selection chief Ed Smith and his right-hand lieutenant James Taylor named both Anderson and Broad in the 16-man squad to soon depart for the Islands.
It took many by surprise and even though the inclusion of opening batsmen Rory Burns and Joe Denly grabbed the headlines, many had tipped England’s two experienced heads to be absent from the list.
The long-term view from the ECB is to keep Anderson especially, and Broad, at 32, who had been struggling for form but found it again over the English summer, as fit and firing for as long as possible.
BREAKING NEWS
We’ve confirmed our Test squad for November’s series against Sri Lanka:
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— England Cricket (@englandcricket) September 21, 2018
Resting may have seemed like the ideal way to achieve that but the fact of the matter is both players will have pushed to go on the tour and would really want to play, even after a five-match series.
There is no doubt Anderson, in particular, had a huge say in his decision to be part of things and justifiably so. England’s greatest-ever bowler is as fit as ever and still wants to run in and bowl as much as possible. He can add to his wicket collection against the Lankans and start eyeing up his next record, possibly that of Indian great Anil Kumble’s 619 Test wicket haul.
The beauty of the Sri Lankan tour dates is Anderson can also still enjoy the festive period at home with his family.
Post-Sri Lanka, given both the Lancastrian and Nottingham star Broad only feature in red-ball cricket now, the next England assignment is a three-Test series in the West Indies (January and February 2019).
Even if they both play a full part in the Sri Lankan matches, there is plenty of recovery time to keep both bowlers fresh for the Windies and let’s not forget England’s Test summer at home next year doesn’t begin until late July because of the ICC World Cup.
Then, the Three Lions will face Ireland in a one-off Test, starting on July 24 at Lord’s, before the small matter of a five-match Ashes series on home soil throughout August and September.
Recapturing the Urn is the ultimate goal for Anderson and Broad, and relatively speaking, they have the perfect balance of playing time and rest moving forward to achieve that.
It should also be noted that the calibre of upcoming opposition in Test cricket won’t bring the same stresses and strains of more high-profile clashes.
And when you also factor in Northamptonshire quick Olly Stone’s impending debut, then Anderson and Broad can focus on doing what they do best with the ball and let the 24-year-old focus on sending down genuine pace on tracks which will require skill to get wickets.
