James Anderson and Stuart Broad have taken a total of 1177 wickets in Test cricket but their futures are in question after their 4-0 Ashes defeat. Despite the 1-0 series loss to the West Indies, former captain Joe Root spoke of the positive atmosphere in the youth team and that it seemed that it could be more difficult to see the pair together in the England Test team.
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Rob was addressing reporters for the first time since taking over as director at Lord’s and said he had spoken to Root’s successor Ben Stokes on the future of Anderson and Broad, and both agreed that if both bowlers were fit, he would be on the team. Will be strong contenders to return to Rob told the BBC that before my formal appointment I called both Jimmy and Brody and told me that I think both will be available for the first Test of the season. However, I am only the managing director and it was important that the new captain also agree on this. Ben himself said that Jimmy and Brody should return and I believe so too.
If we both did not agree on this then it was a different matter, but it did not happen. Broad appeared in the County Championship for the first time this week and took a wicket in his third over against Worcestershire while playing for Nottinghamshire. Anderson, on the other hand, managed to pick up two wickets for Lancashire against Hampshire this week after finding his way in an innings win against Gloucestershire last week. Rob said that we do not need to explain anything to experienced players like Jimmy and Brody.
If they don’t know how to prepare for a big season, no one might. After picking up a five-wicket haul in Sydney during the Ashes, Broad had expressed displeasure with the previous team management, as he often lost focus on the current conditions in the midst of taking charge.
In such a situation, Stuart Broad was dropped several times and in 2020 also he objected to this policy while talking to Sky Sports when he was kept out of the team. Rob said that although he could not comment on the future of the senior pair, he does not expect the England management to continue the practice of resting and rotating players to take charge as the Covid outbreak subsides.