Nasser Hussain has said James Anderson and Stuart Broad “deserve better” after England’s two leading wicket-takers in Test cricket were dropped for the upcoming tour of the West Indies.

The ECB announced the decision to axe the two quicks for the three-match series last week, though interim managing director of men’s cricket Andrew Strauss added that the pair would still be in the mix for selection ahead of the start of the home summer.

Anderson was England’s leading wicket-taker in Test cricket in 2021, taking 39 wickets at an average of 21.74, while Broad finished the recent Ashes series with 13 wickets at 26.30.

While Anderson has yet to comment publicly on his omission, Broad took to his newspaper column over the weekend to admit his frustration. “I always try to find a positive in the hand that has been dealt to me,” wrote Broad in the Mail on Sunday. “To be honest, though, that’s been quite tricky this time because the decision to leave me out of the tour of West Indies has hit me pretty hard.”

Former England captain Nasser Hussain has now weighed in on the situation in his Daily Mail column, writing that the experienced duo “deserve loyalty”.

“Yes, England do need to move on from their two champion fast bowlers at some stage, but that can come from natural progression,” said Hussain. “Certainly their issues have been in the batting, regularly being 20 for three or bowled out for 150. That is not Broad and Anderson’s fault.

“I just hope this is not the ‘management’ of two outspoken senior players with big personalities. That sort of thing does my head in. Part of being captain and in management is dealing with people at different stages of their career, people who speak their mind and can be difficult at times.

“I am not for picking a team of yes-men, all goody two-shoes, because that doesn’t win you Test matches. Sometimes a strong personality makes a person the cricketer they are and your job as captain is to deal with that.”

“Broad and Anderson deserve better than this. They deserve loyalty. They have been there for England time after time. The work they put in behind the scenes, the training, the fitness, the coming back from injury, strapping on the boots to pull the batsmen out of another hole.”

Hussain also referenced Broad’s claim that the decision was explained to him over a five-minute phone call with Strauss.

“They are all-time great cricketers, still at the top of their game into their late and mid-30s. It can only be hoped that their long and distinguished careers have not been ended by a five-minute phone call.”

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