Stuart Broad has admitted to having sleepless nights in an angry response to being axed for England's Test tour of the West Indies.
There was widespread shock last Tuesday when neither Broad, or James Anderson, were named in the party to the play the three-match series in March, despite taking a combined total of 1,177 international red ball wickets between them.
Despite the team being mauled 4-0 in Australia, Broad, 35, finished the recent Ashes series in good form, taking 11 wickets in the final two Tests, including a five-wicket haul in Sydney.
However, the veteran of 152 Tests revealed he learnt he was being dropped in a 'five-minute phone call' from ex-teammate Andrew Strauss, the current interim managing director of English cricket.
And whilst Strauss insisted the door is not closed on Broad or Anderson, the Nottinghamshire man appears miffed at the decision.
"Not to big it up too much but it has affected my sleep," he wrote in his MailOnline column.
"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."
Broad argued that he had performed to a world class standard for the past eight years, and believed he could be integral to helping the side recover from a difficult past 12 months, which included series defeats to India, New Zealand, and then Australia.
"And so, it makes it even more upsetting that they don't see me part of their immediate plans, especially with a view to looking at a way of winning away from home, which was briefly explained to me.
"I could take being dropped if I had let my standards slip but facing up to being overlooked when they haven't is another thing altogether. That's why I was so outspoken when I was left out against West Indies in Southampton a couple of years ago. It felt unjust."
Broad did claim he had received multiple messages of support since the squad was announced, something that has only served to compound his frustration.
"Do I believe I warrant a place in England's best team in Antigua on March 8? Of course, I do. That is why it is so difficult to comprehend. "
He revealed he had spoken at length to Anderson, 39, and did allow himself to joke the pair had been planning golf trips "because we've suddenly had some unexpected time free up."
