Jimmy Anderson rested for England's third Test against Sri Lanka as Stuart Broad returns

England have rested Jimmy Anderson for this week’s final Test against Sri Lanka and confirmed both Stuart Broad and Jonny Bairstow will be recalled for the match, starting Friday at the Sinhalese Cricket Club.

Bairstow was injured for the First Test in Galle and, despite recovering from his ankle injury, left out for England’s win in Kandy that gave Joe Root’s team an unassailable 2-0 series lead.

However, after losing the wicketkeeping gloves to Surrey’s Ben Foakes, Bairstow has been given the opportunity to bat at No3 in Colombo, after all-rounder Sam Curran was ruled out with a side strain.

It is a move that signals England have identified the Yorkshireman as a viable long-term solution to a problem ­position they have struggled to fill since Jonathan Trott flew home with a stress-related illness one match into the 2013-14 Ashes series in Australia.

Bairstow averages 41.95 in Test cricket over the past three years and head coach Trevor Bayliss and Root both believe he has the temperament and technique to thrive at three.

The 29-year-old has successfully ­reinvented himself as an opener in one-day cricket and is an integral part of Eoin Morgan’s England team that have risen to No1 in the world in the 50-over format.

For Anderson, this is the first time he has been officially rested since the ­Edgbaston Test against the West Indies in 2012. He has taken just one wicket in two Tests here and, with the series already won, it was decided to give Broad a run out.