England’s two leading wicket-takers of all time, James Anderson and Stuart Broad were the victims of the fallout from the disastrous Ashes tour down under. In a shocking turn of events, the duo has been left out of the touring party for the West Indies series next month.
Anderson and Broad, the most successful new ball pair in the history of Test cricket, were dropped from the team by the interim selection panel of Andrew Strauss, Paul Collingwood and James Taylor. The decision was made to give opportunities to younger pacers, including the uncapped duo of Saqib Mahmood and Matthew Fisher.
“With the start of a new cycle, it has allowed the selection panel to refresh the Test squad with a particular focus on competing away from home. We felt that it was time to draw a line after the Ashes defeat, look forward and give some impetus with an influx of new players,”
Strauss said.
England’s most prolific bowler of all time and the third leading wicket-taker in Tests with 640 wickets, Anderson has been magnificent for his national team in the last few years. The veteran has claimed 63 wickets in 19 matches since the start of 2020 at an average of 22.33.
He also returned with the best average from the Ashes, picking eight wickets from three games at 23.37. Stuart Broad, who has 537 wickets to his credit in the format, claimed 13 wickets in the Ashes at 26.30.
“In respect of James Anderson and Stuart Broad, I want to emphasise this does not mean the end for them as England players. We feel that it is important to look at some exciting new bowling potential and give some added responsibility to other players who have featured previously”.
Strauss added that the omission from the West Indies tour does not mean it will be the end of their Test career. That decision will be up to the new management that the ECB are in process to form.
“No one doubts the quality and experience that James and Stuart bring to the England set-up. It will be up to the new managing director and permanent head coach to decide on whether they will be involved this summer and beyond.”
Among other casualties is the wicket-keeper batter Jos Buttler. The white-ball beast had an underwhelming Test record for all his potential, averaging 32 from 57 matches. Buttler had a horrendous Ashes campaign and now has been replaced with Ben Foakes.
Rory Burns, Haseeb Hameed, Dawid Malan, Dom Bess and Sam Billings were also dropped from the squad. The immensely talented Ollie Pope, who also had a disastrous tour, averaging 11.13 from six innings, received a lifeline. Pope, Jonny Bairstow and Dan Lawrence will be the middle order options on the tour. Alex Lees, who captained England Lions recently, is set to make his debut as an opener alongside Zak Crawley.
In the bowling department, Mark Wood, Chris Woakes and Ollie Robinson will be the senior seam-bowling trio with Mahmood, Fisher and Craig Overton in the mix. Jack Leach will continue to be England’s first choice spinner, but Matt Parkinson has also been recalled.
“This selection of this squad is the start of a process and a journey to get England Test cricket back to where it needs to be, and the hard work starts now,”
Strauss added.
England will depart for the three-match Test series later this month and will kick start the series on March 8 in Antigua.
