Jimmy Anderson reveals he still doesn't understand why he was dropped from England Test squad

Jimmy Anderson is still hurting from his England snub, and admits he still can’t understand the decision to leave him out of the Test series against the West Indies.

The Lancashire seamer, and fellow opening bowler Stuart Broad, were both controversially left out of the squad as part of a ‘red ball’ reset following the shocking Ashes defeat in Australia over the winter.

Two months on, the decision is still raw for Anderson - England’s leading Test wicket-taker - and is just as baffling to the 39-year-old as when interim managing director Andrew Strauss broke the news to him in a five-minute phone call in February.

When asked by M.E.N. Sport if he now understood the decision, Anderson, who is preparing for the start the new County Championship campaign with Lancashire, replied: “Absolutely not. Something like this, for me, it’s quite a big deal because it came out of the blue a little bit.

“I still feel like I’m bowling well. I was in the top 10 of the world rankings so I feel like I’m doing a good job for the team.

“I feel like I’ve got a lot to offer, not just on the field but off it. I’ve really enjoyed working with the other bowlers that are coming through.

It’s been a difficult time for everyone. After an Ashes defeat everything comes under scrutiny. There’s lots going on, people losing their jobs and stuff.

“I would have loved a sit-down, face-to-face, but obviously that’s not always possible in these situations. I would have loved more than a five minute phone call, but again, that’s not always possible in these situations. It is what it is.

“I’ve stopped trying to make sense of it and just put it to one side. It was completely out of my control. I’ve got to focus on what I can control and that is bowling as well