James Anderson and Stuart Broad, England’s most successful new-ball pair have been dropped from the squad for the tour of West Indies. This is a significant development. The two elder statesmen, who have been part of so many English wins are no longer required by the ECB. There are arguments on both sides. Some of the former players are really disgusted with their axing and some of supportive and understanding of the decision. Let me try to analyse the bold decision of ECB.
Andrew Strauss, the man at the helm of English cricket said,
‘It was a very hard conversation and, of course, it’s a high-profile decision. We know there will be a lot of interest in this but we feel we’re doing it for the right reasons and it is going to help the England team at a time when it really needs to develop quickly.’
Steve Harmison has lambasted the decision
‘I can understand Stuart being annoyed and he will be annoyed. Stuart’s a bowler I would have taken to the Caribbean because of the bouncy surfaces. Jimmy can bowl on anything. He’s the best bowler of all time and can bowl on any surface. If there was one tour to give him off this was possibly it, getting him ready for what would be his last hurrah in the summer.’
On the otherhand, Michael Vaughan, the former captain, has supported the move to drop both of them.
This was not something unexpected
It has been coming for quite some time. Those who have not seen it must be living under a cave for a long time. Ever since the emergence of Archer, Stone, Wood and to a lesser extent Robinson, Woakes and Overton, the days Broad and Anderson playing together have been less. Both have been loyal foot soldiers for English cricket but the game does not wait for anyone. When it is time, everyone moves on. So now, it is Broad and Anderson’s turn to make way. To attribute the sacking or axing or resting or whatever it is called to the Ashes humiliation is not correct. England did not lose the Ashes because of the bowling of the duo. They lost because of their shoddy batting.
Over the last several years, one of Broad or Anderson have always been rested. Especially, in India, Sri Lanka and Australia. This was with the aim of prolonging their careers. Anderson is 40. Though he is supremely fit, his bowling does suffer from potency as the game and the series moves on. Broad hasn’t been that effective outside of the environs of England except for a few games. From the outside, the decision seems quite harsh to drop bowlers who between them have taken more than 1100 wickets but Root and England wants to clear break after the Ashes mauling. Questions can be asked. Is this the correct way to do it?
Difference of opinion in the Ashes
Even during the Ashes, not all was well between Root and his two leading bowlers. Root complained about the senior bowlers not bowling full and of being afraid for which Broad replied that no matter who bowls, if the team scores only 140, England cannot expect to win.
Have England selected the correct bowlers?
The argument that can be put forward in their defence is that England have selected Robinson and Woakes to tour the Caribbean. Woakes without the Dukes ball and outside of England is certainly a liability. Robinson has great fitness problem. He hardly is able to bowl in the 3rd or 4th spell. With Archer & Stone not available either, it beggars belief that Anderson and Broad are treated as expendables and not the other two.
The only hope here is that Robinson is younger and he will be able to improve his fitness. Ofcourse, I do not know how Woakes have survived the culling of several players from that wretched Ashes tour is hard to believe. However, to Strauss credit, he took the decision away from the hands of Joe Root. Root was there in the meeting and he would have certainly found it difficult to drop his elder statesmen but it was Strauss who prevailed.
We have not seen the last of either of them
Strauss did insist that this is not the end of the road for either of them. I reckon both will be back as soon as the English summer starts but after all these years, both Anderson and Broad would not want to be bracketed as specialists good enough to bowl only in English conditions. I don’t know about Broad but Anderson has had his fair rate of success. Remember, a few years ago, Dhoni termed Anderson as the difference between India and England after England won the test series. I do believe that both the bowlers will back for the English season but I do think that they will consider this to be humiliation. This leads to the question. Will they announce retirement?
I believe Anderson must and Broad, perhaps. As and when Archer and Stone is back, assuming that they retain the same potency, it is difficult for either Anderson or Broad to play ahead of those two. Play a few games during the summer and announce retirement. I certainly think that this is the end of the road for either of them outside of England. Their touring days are all but over.
Strauss went on the rampage
8 players from the Ashes squad were sacked. Most of them deserves. The likes of Buttler must never have played so many games. The surprise was however Dawid Malan. He started the series brightly but tapered off after Melbourne. Perhaps he could have been given one more series away from the pressures of Ashes. Mind you, England’s record against West Indies in the island is poorer compared to Australia. For some reason, they always end up short or West Indies raise their game to a whole new level against England.
Conclusion to bold decision by ECB
The writing is on the wall for Broad and Anderson. They will do well to play a couple of games during the summer and announce their retirements.