No point in England risking Jimmy Anderson with the series won in Sri Lanka

England’s management of Jimmy Anderson in the last two years has been immaculate and has extended his career. For a number of reasons, by leaving their most-prized asset out of the Third Test in Colombo, they have got it right again.

There are high-profile voices that will disagree, such as Michael Vaughan, who believes that, in the autumn of his career, Anderson should play whenever available. But the series, slightly surprisingly, is won and, while he played his part with the bat and has been England’s most economical bowler, Anderson, by his own admission, has been “a spare part” here.

Were this game anywhere where Anderson would likely have a major bearing on it, then he should play. But, unusually, the conditions — with no seam, swing or carry — do not make him one of England’s key bowlers. They are the finger spinners Moeen Ali and Jack Leach (who have each bowled more than twice as many as Anderson’s 41 overs) and, to a lesser extent, Adil Rashid’s wrist-spin.

In Stuart Broad — or, indeed, Chris Woakes — a hungry, high-quality replacement has been waiting in the wings. Olly Stone could even have made his debut, too, to offer something very different.

Anderson has a chronic shoulder injury that makes even brushing his teeth painful at times. Management of his workload in recent years has been key to keeping that injury quiet and has underpinned the continued improvement that has seen him take more wickets than any Test seamer ever.

He played just 14 first-class games this year, down from 17 last year (as well as eight List A games for Lancashire), and has had long periods of rest, such as the six-week spell between England’s Test series this summer. Playing this game would have been a risk with little reward. Instead, Operation Anderson’s Ashes can begin.

Over the last year, driven by the short-formers’ excellence, England’s Test and ODI teams have actually become more similar, even in an age where we are told greater format specialisation is required. Six of the Test team on Friday are also first-choice in the ODI side — and Woakes could easily have made that seven. Jason Roy is not far back in the queue, either.

But Anderson and Broad’s Test specialism make them England’s point of difference, especially for next summer. Australia have a formidable attack but, while Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins are flogging themselves in the World Cup, Anderson and Broad will be fine-tuning with the occasional game and a bit of punditry. With the right management, that is an advantage that can be exploited.

The return of Jonny Bairstow (below) also comes at the right time. It is a selection that sets the team’s template for the Caribbean tour, starting in January, where the five-man attack might be three seamers and two spinners, then next summer, where it can be four seamers and a spinner.

Bairstow is unquestionably one of England’s best batsmen and the discipline demanded at No3 and the kick up the backside he has received this month should just draw that out.