Strauss says West Indies axe not the 'end' for Anderson, Broad

Andrew Strauss said on Wednesday he is adamant that James Anderson and Stuart Broad still have a future in Test cricket after England's two most successful Test bowlers were left out of next month's tour of the West Indies.

The pacemen were omitted from a 16-man squad announced on Tuesday for a three-match series in the Caribbean despite boasting 1,177 Test wickets between them as England seek to bounce back from their Ashes debacle.

"They were both very disappointed and that doesn't surprise me," England and Wales Cricket Board interim managing director Strauss told Sky Sports.

"They're both very passionate about playing for England. I hope that they understand the rationale for the decision and also they understand that no one is saying this is the end of the road for either of them.

"Their job right at the moment is to get themselves fired up to go for the start of the international summer in June."

Anderson, who has 640 Test wickets, and fellow pace bowler Broad, who has 537 scalps, are among eight players axed from the squad that suffered a humiliating 4-0 Ashes series loss in Australia.

Strauss has also presided over the departures of managing director Ashley Giles, head coach Chris Silverwood and batting coach Graham Thorpe in a shake-up of England's backroom staff.

There have long been suggestions the 39-year-old Anderson and 35-year-old Broad have held too much sway over England captain Joe Root, who is continuing in his post despite the Ashes defeat.

But Strauss, who captained successful England sides featuring Anderson and Broad, said: "This is more about us finding a bowling resource that's capable of winning away from home and obviously you need a lot of variety in your attack to do that, that's blatantly obvious."

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