Anderson has ‘stopped trying to make sense of’ being dropped from England’s Test team

James Anderson, the most successful pacer in Test cricket, last played a match for England in January this year. He and fellow speedster Stuart Broad were then left out of the squad that travelled to the West Indies and faced defeats in both Tests and T20Is. Joe Root and co were also outplayed by Australia in the Ashes, enduring a 0-4 loss. 

However, there is no sign that the team management plans on bringing the likes of James Anderson and Broad back on board. The former has now said that he has stopped “trying to make sense of it” as it is completely out of his control.

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Anderson is England’s highest wicket-taker in Tests and third in the all-time record with 640 scalps from 169 matches. Broad has 537 wickets in 152 games. 

Reacting to being dropped for the West Indies series, Anderson told ESPN.cricinfo that he was not surprised. 

“Absolutely not. I’ve stopped trying to make sense of it and just put it to one side. It was completely out of my control. I’ve got to focus on what I can control and that is bowling as well as I possibly can. It feels a bit strange at the minute. I’m still centrally contracted but I’ve not had too much feedback from them because a lot is up in the air in terms of director of cricket and head coach,” ESPNcricinfo quoted Anderson as saying.

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The pacer, 39 years old, added that he just ‘trying to figure out what the best way forward is’. 

“For the last few years, I have been thinking about that [life after cricket] anyway; it is just natural to think about that when you get to a certain age. People keep asking you the question of how long you are going to go on for. I don’t think that has changed much really,” he added.

England are placed at the bottom of the World Test Championship table. They have managed to win only one out of their last 12 games. The team management had sacked coach Chris Silverwood after the Ashes. 

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Anderson said that the team needs a a good coach before anything else. 

“They [England] just need a really good coach. It’s not about me [but] the team needs a coach in place ASAP. It’s not that far until the start of the international summer so I think the sooner the better,” he said. 

England are yet to announce their squad for their home Test series against New Zealand begginning from June 2.