Anderson covers for Finn

James Anderson has been called into England's Twenty20 squad for the three matches against South Africa as cover for Steven Finn who has a stiff back a week before the team is due to depart for the World Twenty20 in Sri Lanka.

Finn was left out for the last ODI against South Africa at Trent Bridge on Thursday with Chris Woakes taking his place and Alastair Cook said it was wise to take a careful approach with the fast bowler.

"You do have to be careful with the amount of cricket coming up," he said. "It was a very sensible decision, I think. It would have looked quite stupid if he'd tried to play and it had then suddenly got worse."

Anderson has not played a T20 for England since facing South Africa at Centurion in 2009, although he was part of the squad for the World T20 in the Caribbean. He has played 19 T20 internationals, taking 18 wickets with an economy rate of 7.84. Finn, meanwhile, has claimed nine wickets in his six matches.

The first match against South Africa is at Chester-le-Street on Saturday before further games at Old Trafford and Edgbaston. England leave for Sri Lanka next Thursday ahead of the start of their title defence against Afghanistan on September 21 before their second group match against India two days later.