Broad and Anderson among eight England axe

James Anderson and Stuart Broad are among eight players to have been dropped by England from the Test squad to tour the West Indies next month.

The veterans’ axing, and other omissions, suggests England are embarking on wholesale change after the Ashes debacle when they were lucky to escape with a 4-0 defeat.

However, Andrew Strauss, who led the selection panel in the absence of a permanent head coach, said “this does not mean the end for them as England players.”

Also left out are opening batters Rory Burns and Haseeb Hameed, No.3 bat David Malan, spinner Dom Bess, wicketkeeper-batsmen Jos Buttler and Sam Billings. Of those Buttler has been nursing a broken finger suffered in Australia while Billings was a late call-up for him.

Recalled to the side is wicketkeeper Ben Foakes while four uncapped players are included: opening batsman Alex Lees, seam bowlers Saq Mahmood and Matthew Fisher, and legspinner Matt Parkinson.

Ollie Pope and Chris Woakes survive despite performing poorly in the Ashes, as do Dan Lawrence and Craig Overton who toured Australia but did not play a Test.

“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,” said Andrew Strauss.

“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.

“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.

“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.

“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.”

Anderson made his debut in 2003, Broad in 2007. Both have indicated they wanted to continue playing Test cricket.

The pair have taken 1,177 Test wickets, 640 to the 39-year-old Anderson, 537 to the 35-year-old Broad.

In the Ashes Anderson topped the bowling averages with eight wickets at 23.37, Broad came third with 13 wickets at 26.30. Both would have done better were it not for England’s habit of dropping catches.

Last week, England sacked managing director Ashley Giles, head coach Chris Silverwood, who was solely responsible for selection, and assistant coach Graham Thorpe.

An interim selection panel comprising Strauss, Paul Collingwood (who will coach the team in the Caribbean) and head scout James Taylor have chosen the West Indies party.

It will be the first time an England touring party has included neither player since the West Indies tour of 2004, which is also the only time England’s have won in the Caribbean since 1967-68.

The first Test is in Antigua March 8-12, with subsequent Tests in Barbados and Grenada.

Broad and Anderson among eight England axe
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