Kevin Pietersen has said it will be "an absolute disgrace" if James Anderson and Stuart Broad never play for England again after they were dropped for the upcoming tour of the West Indies.
England have brutally axed both Anderson and Broad, their two leading wicket-takers of all time, with the pair among eight players dropped from their Ashes squad.
Interim managing director Sir Andrew Strauss said the pair were axed so England could "look at some exciting new bowling potential and give some added responsibility to other players who have featured previously."
He did go on to say that the decision "does not mean the end" for them, insisting the duo "will very much be in the mix" for selection this summer.
However, that will be a decision the new permanent managing director and head coach will need to make and, with Anderson set to turn 40 this summer and Broad set to turn 36, they may decide to move on.
Taking to Twitter to lambast the decision to drop the pair, Pietersen wrote: "Broad - 152 Tests Anderson - 169 Tests On par with Ambrose/Walsh, Younis/Akram, Donald/Pollock etc.
"If they don’t get a chance to say goodbye to English cricket ON THE FIELD, then it’s an absolute DISGRACE!"
Although Anderson is yet to break his silence over the decision, Broad revealed he had been left angry and confused by his axing.
In a column for the Mail on Sunday , he wrote: "Not to big it up too much but it has affected my sleep. I said to my partner Mollie one morning that my body felt sore.
"She suggested that would be stress. No, I can't pretend I am as good as gold, because I am not. It would be wrong to act like everything's OK.
"I am waking up more confused and angrier with each passing day."
