New England Test captain Ben Stokes has insisted it would be "stupid" to never consider James Anderson and Stuart Broad for selection again.
Anderson and Broad are England's two leading wicket-takers of all-time, having picked up a combined 1,177 wickets in Test cricket. The pair were controversially dropped for England's recent 1-0 series defeat to the West Indies and, with Anderson 39 and Broad 35, it was feared the axing could spell the end of their international careers.
However, England's new Managing Director of Men's Cricket Rob Key confirmed last week that both he and Stokes were keen for the pair to return. He said: "I rang Jimmy and Broady on the Sunday I was announced and I just said to them, 'look, there are going to be coaches coming in, but for my money, you guys are available for selection for that first Test match'.
"Then when I met Ben Stokes the other day, one of the first things he said was 'I want the best team out there and Jimmy and Broady are a part of that. If they're the best bowlers, then they play. That's it.' And I agree."
And Stokes has now confirmed his desire for both Anderson and Broad to return, insisting it would "stupid" for the pair to not be considered for selection. "The best chance to win Test matches is by picking your 11 best players and if James Anderson and Stuart Broad are fit, they are up for selection because they are the two best bowlers in England," he told Sky Sports.
"They are two of the greats of the game and, in my opinion, it would be stupid to never consider them for selection. They are part of the best XI, so, yeah, it's pretty simple."
Stokes also said former skipper Joe Root will be someone he 'looks to for advice', but ruled out naming him as vice-captain. "The vice-captaincy can sometimes feel like a token-gesture role but I took it very seriously because you are playing a huge part in helping your captain," Stokes added.
"It's a very, very important role and not something to take for granted. Joe will always be someone I look to for advice, someone players will turn to for advice to.
"He has captained the team for six years, it would be stupid not to ask for advice. But making him vice-captain would be a bit backward as if I left the field he would be captain again and he has just stepped down."
