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London: England coach Andy Flower defended on Friday the decision to rest Paul Collingwood and James Anderson despite the team trailing 3-0 in the One-Day International series against Australia.
Durham batsman Collingwood and Lancashire pace bowler Anderson have not missed an England fixture since early February and will finally get a chance to rest their weary limbs after being told they can leave the squad preparing for Saturday's match at Lord's.
Although England are 3-0 down in the seven-match series and need a victory to have any chance of winning the series, it was decided the strain of such a heavy schedule after the Ashes triumph had taken its toll on the duo.
Former England One-day captain Collingwood will miss the next three games, but return for the final match of the campaign at his Chester-le-Street home ground next weekend.
Anderson, meanwhile, will be rested for two matches and then join up with the squad again for the second of back-to-back day-nighters at Trent Bridge.
A failure to play the strongest possible side against Australia would leave many England fans aghast but Flower said a congested international fixture schedule had left him with little choice.
"I can understand that sentiment, however, I think it is an exciting opportunity for a couple of other guys to step into those roles and do them well," Flower told reporters at Lord's here on Friday.
"I am looking forward to seeing a few fresh changes tomorrow (Saturday).
"We see these guys in the dressing room every day and we make the judgment on who needs the rest and who doesn't.
"They both need a rest, they are picking up physical niggles, they have been in the spotlight a long time and they need a break.
"We also want them to come back into the squad before we get to the Champions Trophy," the former Zimbabwe international added.
Australia captain Ricky Ponting, who has himself just returned to England after missing the opening three matches of the One-day series while he took a post-Ashes break, said Friday: "Collingwood and Anderson going out is just a sign of where international cricket is at.
"The Champions Trophy is just around the corner and England have got a big Test series against South Africa just after that.
"You've got to pick the right moments to be able to give guys a break here and there.
"For England, it's a big game for them tomorrow (Saturday) so it's a big decision for them to leave Collingwood and Anderson out but that's what you have to do sometimes when you're playing as much international cricket as we are these days."
England jet out to South Africa for the Champions Trophy on September 21, which means the only chance to give players a break before then is against world champions Australia, despite the threat of a series thrashing.
Collingwood, 33, faces the prospect of virtually 12 months without a decent rest even with this brief withdrawal from England duty.
He has been engaged in international action since January 20 and is contractually obliged to make himself available for Delhi Daredevils in next month's Champions League.
That club tournament takes place during a three-and-a-half-week lull for England's players, who leave for the tour of South Africa on November 1.
That tour comprises four Tests and five One-Day Internationals and finishes on January 18.
