James Anderson has ‘made peace’ with England omission

James Anderson insisted he has “made peace” with his surprise omission from England’s ongoing Test series in the West Indies and is fully focused on the forthcoming county campaign.

Anderson and Stuart Broad, numbers one and two on England’s all-time list of leading Test wicket-takers with a combined 1,177 dismissals, were controversially left out of the touring squad to the Caribbean.

While Anderson admitted last month he was initially in “shock” and felt “frustration and anger” at being overlooked as part of a much-hyped red-ball reset, the 39-year-old is now looking ahead.

The Lancastrian did concede not being part of a new-look set-up was still a bit hard to stomach, with England drawing in Antigua and Barbados and lacking a cutting edge with the ball in both matches.

But when asked whether he found it difficult watching on from back in the UK, Anderson, who has taken 640 wickets in 169 Tests, said on BBC Radio 5 Live: “Not especially.

“When you’re hearing how things are going and not being a part of this rebuild is a little bit tough. But I made peace with the decision weeks ago, it’s completely out of my control.

“What I can do now is just get myself ready for the county season and try and show people what I can do. I feel in a good place physically and mentally as well.

“I’m just looking forward to playing some cricket for Lancashire.”

As Anderson readies himself for this season’s County Championship, which starts next month, England go to Grenada for the final Test this week hoping for a change in fortunes.

In the first two Tests their seamers in particular have been blunted by desperately unresponsive surfaces, although Anderson’s Lancashire teammate Saqib Mahmood briefly gave England some encouragement in