Star all-rounder Ben Stokes, who recently replaced Joe Root as England’s Test captain, has made it clear that he wants the veteran pace bowling duo of James Anderson and Stuart Broad to make a swift Test return.
Anderson and Broad were controversially dropped from the Test team during the England tour of West Indies as the selectors wanted to give more opportunities to the next generation pacers.
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However, the tour didn’t go well for the English team as they suffered a 1-0 defeat and after the series, Joe Root also decided to relinquish the Test captaincy.
Meanwhile, with the new managing director, Rob Key, and new Test captain, Stokes, being appointed the future of the veteran pace bowling duo is not uncertain and they are expected to make a Test return very soon.
On Tuesday, Stokes said he wants to win games for England and the best way to do that is to pick the best XI. He added that if Broad and Anderson are fit they will be available for selection.
“I want to win games of cricket for England. The best way to do that is picking your best XI and in my opinion, if Stuart Broad and James Anderson are fit they are available for selection,” Stokes told BBC Sport.
I want selfless cricketers – Ben Stokes
The star all-rounder also indicated that he would have a big say in the appointment of Test vice-captain and ruled out the possibility of Joe Root taking over the role as he wants Root to focus on his batting.
England will play their first Test of the summer against New Zealand at the Lord’s on June 2 and Stokes has said that he wants selfless players in the team.
“I want selfless cricketers who make decisions based on winning the game of cricket for England,” Stokes added.
“At the end of the day, the most important thing is winning. I want to be part of a team that has that real mentality, that doesn’t take a backwards step.”
Also Read: Michael Atherton Believes ‘Considering Ben Stokes As A Long-Term England Captain Would Be A Mistake
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