It Was A Shock And Disappointment To Get That Call: James Anderson On Being Dropped For West Indies Test Series
Published - 24 Feb 2022, 11:31 AM | Updated - 23 Aug 2024, 01:05 AM
Senior England speedster James Anderson admitted that he was shocked to get dropped from England’s Test squad for the West Indies red-ball series.
After England’s disastrous outcome in the Ashes, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) are taking some tough calls to reinvigorate their Test side.
England dropped James Anderson and Stuart Broad for the West Indies Test series
The board has dropped Anderson and his long-standing bowling partner Stuart Broad for the three-match Test series against West Indies in the Caribbean next month. However, ECB’s interim managing director Andrew Strauss has mentioned that it won’t be the end of the senior England players’ Test careers.
I’ve still got the hunger and passion to play: James Anderson
Anderson has snapped 640 Test wickets from 169 Test matches, the most by any fast bowler, and is only behind Australia’s Shane Warne (708) and Sri Lanka’s spin wizard Muttiah Muralitharan (800) in the list of leading Test wicket-takers. Anderson, who will turn 40 in September, has the appetite to serve the England cricket team in white colours and won’t consider retirement despite being dropped from the squad for one series.
“I’m praying this isn’t the end but if I never play for England again, I know I’ve got amazing people around me to support me and that’s really important. I’ve got a lot left to offer – I’ve still got the hunger and passion to play,” Anderson said on BBC’s Tailenders Podcast.
“It was a shock and a disappointment to get that call but having processed it, it’s important I try to focus on the stuff I can control and that’s showing people what I can do with the ball in my hand. I’ve got one more go at digging deep.
“It was a shock and a disappointment to get that call but having processed it, it’s important I try to focus on the stuff I can control and that’s showing people what I can do with the ball in my hand,” added Anderson.
England will play the first Test against West Indies on March 8 in Antigua, the three-match series will conclude on March 29.
England Squad for West Indies Test series: Joe Root (C), Jonny Bairstow, Zak Crawley, Matthew Fischer, Ben Foakes, Dan Lawrence, Jack Leach, Alex Lees, Saqib Mahmood, Craig Overton, Matthew Parkinson, Ollie Pope, Ollie Robinson, Ben Stokes, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood
