James Anderson's Test omission common sense - Andy Flower

England coach Andy Flower has concerns over the workload for his fast bowlers

England team director Andy Flower says rotating fast bowlers will become commonplace because of the busy schedule in international cricket.

James Anderson has been rested for the third Test against West Indies at Edgbaston, which starts on Thursday.

"The schedule over the next couple of years is incredibly heavy," said the England boss.

"It is not only going to be Anderson, [Stuart] Broad and [Tim] Bresnan used, it'd be naive and crazy to think so."

Flower told BBC Sport that player management was of vital importance.

"I think the days of playing our players constantly in every form of the game until they either wear down or snap physically or mentally are over," he said.

"There is a better way to do it and we see it as our duty to make such decisions."

Meanwhile, Surrey wicketkeeper Steven Davies has been called into the squad as cover for Matt Prior, who has an eye infection.

Graham Onions or Steven Finn are expected to replace Anderson, who took nine wickets to help England win the first two Tests.

After the third Test, England play three one-day internationals and a Twenty20 against West Indies, five ODIs against Australia and three Tests followed by five ODIs against South Africa.

They then travel to Sri Lanka to defend their ICC World Twenty20 title and face India over four Tests, two T20s and five ODIs before the end of January.

Flower defended the decision to omit Anderson for the final Test of a series that was sealed with a nine-wicket win at Trent Bridge.

"We came into the series with the West Indies with one goal - to win it - and we won it," he said.

"We have achieved that goal, therefore our priorities do shift slightly and those priorities in Test cricket are now the South African series, and just around the corner is the one-day series against the West Indies.

"If it had been 1-1 in the series and we needed to win this game then Jimmy Anderson could play.

"We think this is in the interest of both the player and English cricket. In the case of fast bowlers it could well prolong their careers."

Speaking before the decision to rest him, Anderson said he would be disappointed if he was left out of the squad, and Flower admitted he has sympathy for the player.

"I'm glad Jimmy Anderson wants to play every game for his country, that's exactly the attitude we want our players to have. He should also understand that we are making these decisions in the best interest of the team," Flower said.

England squad for third Test v West Indies: Andrew Strauss (Middlesex, captain), Jonny Bairstow (Yorkshire), Ian Bell (Warwickshire), Tim Bresnan (Yorkshire), Stuart Broad (Nottinghamshire), Alastair Cook (Essex), Steven Finn (Middlesex), Graham Onions (Durham), Kevin Pietersen (Surrey), Matt Prior (Sussex, wk), Steven Davies (Surrey wk) Graeme Swann (Nottinghamshire), Jonathan Trott (Warwickshire).