England announce 16-member squad for West Indies tour, Broad and Anderson dropped

England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has taken a few tough decisions ahead of the team’s Test tour of West Indies. The selection panel consisting of Sir Andrew Strauss (interim managing director of England Men’s Cricket), interim head coach Paul Collingwood and head scout James Taylor has dropped eight players who featured in the recent Ashes series.

James Anderson, Stuart Broad, Haseeb Hameed and Dawid Malan are among the notable omissions while Alex Lees from Durham is a new opener in the mix for the national side. Pacer Matthew Fisher has also earned his maiden call-up to the side that has a refreshing look following England’s 0-4 loss in the Ashes Down under.

Speaking about dropping Anderson and Strauss, interim Managing Director Strauss cleared that the team is trying new bowling options and it is by no means the end of the road for the two veteran pacers.

“With the start of a new cycle, it has allowed the selection panel to refresh the Test squad with a particular focus on competing away from home. We felt that it was time to draw a line after the Ashes defeat, look forward and give some impetus with an influx of new players.

“In respect of James Anderson and Stuart Broad, I want to emphasise this does not mean the end for them as England players. We feel that it is important to look at some exciting new bowling potential and give some added responsibility to other players who have featured previously.

“No one doubts the quality and experience that James and Stuart bring to the England set-up. It will be up to the new managing director and permanent head coach to decide on whether they will be involved this summer and beyond,” he said in an official ECB release.

England to depart on February 24

England are scheduled to play a three-match Test series against the West Indies with the opening game set to be played on March 8. The visitors are also due to play a four-day warm-up game at the Coolidge Cricket Ground in Antigua. The 16-member squad announced for the tour will depart on February 24.

England squad for WI Tests: Joe Root (captain), Jonathan Bairstow, Zak Crawley, Matthew Fisher, Ben Foakes, Dan Lawrence, Jack Leach, Alex Lees, Saqib Mahmood, Craig Overton, Matthew Parkinson, Ollie Pope, Ollie Robinson, Ben Stokes, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood