GEORGE DOBELL AT LORD'S: The new managing director of England men's cricket will take a short-term approach to selection while he and captain Ben Stokes "want the best team out there" as often as possible
James Anderson and Stuart Broad have "a big part to play" in England’s Test plans this summer, according to the new managing director of the men’s teams, Rob Key.
Anderson and Broad were omitted from the squad that toured the Caribbean in March.
But, with England having lost that series and Ben Stokes now confirmed as the side’s new captain, it is clear the pair are now back in the management’s thoughts.
While Key remains hopeful a coach, who will have a loud voice in selection, will be appointed ahead of the first Test of the summer, which starts at Lord’s on June 2, he and England’s new skipper are minded to recall either or both of Anderson and Broad.
"I met Ben Stokes the other day," Key said from Lord’s on Thursday (April 28). "One of the first things he said was ‘I want the best team out there and Jimmy and Broady are a part of that, in my opinion. If they're the best bowlers, then they play. That's it.’ I said ‘I agree’ and then we moved on.
Ben Stokes has followed Joe Root into the England Test captaincy role (Randy Brooks/Getty Images)
"I rang Jimmy and Broady at Easter time just before my appointment as MD was announced and I said to them: ‘Look, obviously there are going to be coaches coming in but, for my money, you guys are available for selection for that first Test match.
"Before that, I'd met Broady in London. I told him exactly how I see him, really: if you're one of the best bowlers in the country then you play.
"We don’t need to tell Jimmy and Broady how they need to prepare for a test match. If they don't know now, no one will. And they've got to be right and up for selection for that first Test. I don't see any reason why they wouldn't be. They have got a big part to play."
While the previous England regime was keen to make plans for months in advance, it appears Key is determined to take a more straightforward approach. So instead of defining a schedule for any of England’s players ahead of the summer, they will make decisions as needs demand.
"We'll just see how they go," Key said. "If they play the first Test and they're bowling really well, then they might play the next. Then, if they're tired, someone else can come in. I don't think we have to overthink all this stuff.
"In terms of selection, I want to go back to a selector. But it’s the only thing I can't really tell you. I haven't got an answer as to who that person is."
"But what we have to do is be flexible. They are not multi-format cricketers. With someone like Jofra Archer, it might be a bit different. When he comes back fit, there will be times when it'll be very obvious when there's a series where we want our absolute best out there. So, there might be a white-ball series where we can sacrifice a bit. I just don't think we have to overthink it."
In terms of selection, Key confirmed his plans to bring back the role of selector but accepted it may take some time to find the right individual for the position.
"I'm optimistic - although it's not a sure thing – that we'll have a coach in place for that first test," he said. "I'm optimistic there's some good names coming in from English cricket and world cricket.
"In terms of selection, I want to go back to a selector. But it’s the only thing I can't really tell you. I haven't got an answer as to who that person is.
Key was speaking at his first public appearance since being installed as the new England men's MD (Clive Rose/Getty Images)
"But selection is very different from when I played and it's not about some person that just goes to watch a few games. There's a lot of scouts now. There's a whole network.
"There's a whole system where you can watch a player’s journey on an app from under-15s all the way through to playing for England. So you need someone who is who's going to coordinate all of that stuff - all the analysis, all the scouting - with the captain and coach.
"I don't know who that person is, to be honest. But it's a very, very important job and all I can say is that we won't rush it to get that person in place. I'd rather have someone really good at it, than rush it and have someone who's not because it's a tricky job. But it's a rewarding one.
"Until then, though, I'm pretty happy with the process that we'll have in place with the people that are already involved in selection. And if you need someone to point the gun at, you can point it at me."
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