Former batter Michael Vaughan reckoned that the horror show in the 2021-22 Ashes in Australia has led the England team management to take drastic steps. After their disastrous outing where they lost the five-match Test series 0-4, the Three Lions are set to lock horns with the West Indies in three Tests.
For the upcoming red-ball games, the Brits have dropped as many as eight players from the Ashes squad. James Anderson and Stuart Broad, two of England’s leading wicket-takers in the purest format, couldn’t make the cut.
Anderson and Broad have a combined tally of 1177 wickets in Test cricket, but the selection panel, led by Paul Collingwood, Andrew Strauss and James Taylor didn’t pick him. Both the veteran speedsters have been in and out of the team over the last few months.
On both Anderson and Broad not finding a spot in the 16-member squad, Vaughan said England are trying to build a team with the two speedsters. He also reckoned that the Brits need to look into the future going forward.
Michael Vaughan on England going through a transition period
“England want to build a new culture. That’s what has led them to the huge decision to drop Jimmy Anderson and Stuart Broad from the squad to the West Indies. They’re trying to create a culture away from Broad and Anderson,” Vaughan was quoted as saying in his column for The Telegraph.
England have also dropped Dawid Malan, Jos Buttler, Haseeb Hameed and Rory Burns for the upcoming series. Alex Lees is a specialist opening batter and he’s most likely to make his debut in the series. England have also called up Ben Foakes, who may don the keeping gloves in the absence of Buttler.
Saqib Mahmood has performed exceptionally since England’s home series against Pakistan last year. He has also found his way into the national team. The focus will also be on the likes of Matt Parkinson and Matthew Fisher.
The first Test is set to start on March 8 at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, North Sound, Antigua. The Kensington Oval, Bridgetown, Barbados and the National Cricket Stadium, St George’s, Grenada and National Cricket Stadium, St George’s, Grenada will host the other two Tests.
