Former England captain Kevin Pietersen says it will be “an absolute disgrace” if England pair James Anderson and Stuart Broad don’t play Test cricket again.
The pair – England’s top wicket-takers in Test history – were dumped from the squad for the upcoming tour of the West Indies.
Anderson is 39 and Broad 35, and there comes a time when England needs to look to the future. However, they’re also still two of the country’s best bowlers in the long form of the game, with Pietersen comparing them with some of the greats.
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“Broad – 152 Tests, Anderson – 169 Tests,” he wrote.
“On par with Ambrose/Walsh, Younis/Akram, Donald/Pollock etc.
“If they don’t get a chance to say goodbye to English cricket ON THE FIELD, then it’s an absolute DISGRACE!”
Broad used his column for the Mail on Sunday to make the case for a Test recall, pointing out that he took 11 wickets in the final two Ashes Tests.
The article also included a graphic that noted in the last five years Anderson has taken 173 Test wickets and Broad 169 … well clear of any other English bowler.
“I have been Test match standard for a long time and, for the last eight years, you would say world class,” Broad wrote.
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“And so, it makes it even more upsetting that they don’t see me part of their immediate plans, especially with a view to looking at a way of winning away from home, which was briefly explained to me.
“I am in the top three bowlers in the country and whether I play — or indeed Jimmy plays — when we resume international cricket in June will be a call for new eyes to decide.
“Do I believe I warrant a place in England’s best team in Antigua on March 8? Of course, I do. That is why it is so difficult to comprehend.”
Broad wrote that he was informed of the decision in a five minute phone call with Andrew Strauss last week, explaining that he’d had trouble sleeping since receiving the news.
“I can’t pretend I am as good as gold, because I am not. It would be wrong to act like everything’s OK,” he said.
“Feeling as though I’ve performed well and deserve to be in the side makes it hard.”
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