England’s interim managing director, Andrew Strauss believes the absence of veteran bowlers James Anderson and Stuart Broad on the Caribbean tour will give an opportunity to other players to step into leadership roles. Thereby providing more options for the incoming regime as the ECB appoint a new head coach and permanent managing director in the coming months.
Strauss addressed the media at Lord’s on Wednesday after announcing the new look Test squad for the three-match Test series against the West Indies. Strauss denied that Anderson and Broad’s stature had become too powerful within the English camp but marked Chris Woakes and Mark Wood to have a bigger role in the upcoming tour.
“It’s hard to criticise either Jimmy Anderson or Stuart Broad in how they are on and off the field. They are exceptional performers on the field and they are very professional off it, which is why they have played for so long,”
Strauss said.
“What I do think is it gives an opportunity for people to stand up and play leadership roles. In the bowling attack, we’re looking at the likes of Wood and Woakes to play more of that role. Expect a lot from Stokes and Bairstow as well. They have the chance to pull out the stops and help Joe Root.”
Mark Wood was England’s stand-out player in the Ashes. He bowled his heart out at rapid pace and snared 17 wickets in four matches at an average of 26.64, including career-best six for 37 at Hobart. Woakes’ retention, on the other hand, has a lot to do with the batting depth he brings.
He scored 146 runs in six innings in the Ashes, consistently looking more solid at the crease than many frontline batters. With the ball, however, he returned with six wickets at an average of 55.33, further highlighting the contrast between his home and away record.
Woakes will have some hope in the upcoming tour as the Tests in the Caribbean are played with Dukes ball. Strauss acknowledged the demands of the Kookaburra ball and hinted that England will be trying to develop an all-round bowling attack with home and away horses for courses.
“We’ve got Mark Wood who gives us that X-Factor of extra pace. Then you want the tall, hit-the-deck bowlers and ones who are able to swing the ball.
We’re trying to have that variety in the attack, so whatever the conditions we can exploit this.”
There’s clarity in Strauss’ thinking but they have received immense backlash for the exclusion of the experienced pair from all quarters of the cricket fraternity. Former England captains Nasser Hussain and Michael Atherton have lamented the decision by saying “They deserve better” and it’s an “odd moment to make such a decision“.
The former England captain, who oversaw a chaotic tour of the West Indies in 2009 as an emergency captain, understands that winning in the Caribbean isn’t going to be easy. England have won only once there since 1968, which came in 2004.
Strauss believes that they have picked a squad that is well capable of winning this time. He also added that while their intention and focus is on winning the next series, they’re also looking at things from a long-term perspective.
“We feel like we’ve selected a team that is capable of winning out in the West Indies. Of course we’ve got half an eye on tomorrow. My job is really to give that new director of cricket and coach options to choose from going forward,”
Strauss concluded.
