Michael Vaughan ‘quite happy’ with England’s decision to drop James Anderson and Stuart Broad

Former captain Michael Vaughan says he is ‘quite happy’ with England’s decision to drop their record wicket-takers James Anderson and Stuart Broad for next month’s Test series against West Indies.

A selection panel of interim director of cricket Sir Andrew Strauss, interim head coach Paul Collingwood and head scout James Taylor met on Tuesday to pick a 16-man squad for the Caribbean tour.

Eyebrows were raised as Anderson, England’s all-time leading wicket-taker in Tests with 640 dismissals in 169 matches, and Broad, who sits second on the list, were both left out.

But Vaughan has backed England’s decision and says it ‘sends a strong message to the team’ following their recent 4-0 Ashes defeat in Australia.

‘They’re trying to create a culture away from Stuart Broad and James Anderson,’ Vaughan wrote in a column for the Daily Telegraph.

‘Sometimes high-class senior bowlers can be an issue in the side. That’s not saying they’re not good people – they are – but you sometimes need to move forward. That sends a strong message to the team.

‘I’m quite happy with this selection. They clearly feel that they need to move away from that pair. That’s the message – Joe Root and his team want to build a new team without Broad and Anderson. 

‘The joke will be that England have got rid of the best two bowlers, but it was the batting that failed miserably in Australia. But I believe this was the right time to start.

While Vaughan has defended England’s selection call, he also admits he ‘feels a bit sorry’ for Anderson and Broad.

Strauss said on Tuesday that their omission did ‘not mean the end’ but Vaughan believes it could go either way, with the duo potentially having played their last games for England.

‘They might well play in the summer,’