England will not play against Anderson or Broad in the West Indies Test series.

England have sidelined James Anderson and Stuart Broad, the country’s two all-time top Test wicket-takers, for their trip to the West Indies, as part of a substantial shake-up of the faltering squad.

Anderson, with 640 Test wickets, and Broad, with 537, are two of the eight players left out of England’s humiliating Ashes series defeat in Australia.

Jos Buttler, England’s wicketkeeper-batsman, has also been left out. Durham opener Alex Lees and Yorkshire seamer Matthew Fisher have been called up to the first team.

After England lost 4-0 to Australia, Dawid Malan, Sam Billings, Dom Bess, Rory Burns, and Haseeb Hameed were all left out of the team, as well.

Saqib Mahmood and Matt Parkinson of Lancashire are the last two players to join the new 16-man squad for the three-test series, which starts next week.

Andrew Strauss, head coach Paul Collingwood, and chief scout James Taylor all lost their jobs after one of England’s worst Test tours in a long time.

Chris Silverwood, the head coach, Graham Thorpe, the assistant coach, and Ashley Giles, the director of men’s cricket, had already been let go because of Australia’s problems both on and off the field.

Strauss said it was easier for the selection panel to make changes to the test team because of the start of a new cycle. They focused on competing away from home.

“We thought it was time to draw a ‘ under the Ashes setback, move ahead, and inject some fresh life into the team,” the former England captain continued.

Despite their surprise expulsion, Anderson and Broad may still play for England in the future, according to Strauss.

“With regards to James Anderson and Stuart Broad, I want to clarify that this does not imply that their England careers are over,” he said.

“We think it’s important to look at some new bowling talent and give more responsibility to the people who have already played.”

“No one disputes James and Stuart’s ability and experience in the England set-up.

The new managing director and head coach will decide whether or not they will be hired this summer and for the rest of the year and beyond.

“The selection of this group is the beginning of a process and journey to restore English Test cricket to its former glory, and the hard work begins now.”

England’s first test against the West Indies begins on March 8 at Antigua.

England team