London, Feb 13 England's pace-bowling stalwart Stuart Broad has admitted he is trying to come to terms with being left out of England's Test squad for the upcoming away tour of the West Indies beginning on March 8 at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in North Sound, Antigua.
Broad and pacer Jimmy Anderson were among eight players dropped by England for the West Indies tour after the 4-0 hammering the team received during the recently-concluded Ashes in Australia.
Broad was not included in the opening Test at The Gabba and the third Test at the MCG, which England lost by huge margins. The pace bowler wrote in his columns for a leading English newspaper about the frustration of being left out during the series.
On Sunday, Broad said he is still in the dark about the circumstances that led to his recent axing from the Test squad for the West Indies. He added that he has been struggling to come to terms with being omitted and said he was disappointed with the lack of communication he received from selectors.
"I am struggling to put things into context. It's hard to do so when all you've had is a five-minute phone call and nothing else," Broad wrote in a column in England's Mail on Sunday newspaper.
"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."
Broad snared 13 wickets from three Tests in Australia second Test at Adelaide, fourth Test at SCG and the fifth Test at Hobart at a decent average of 26, and still sees himself as being in England's best Test side.
"I took 11 wickets in the final two Ashes matches, I have been Test match standard for a long time and, for the last eight years, you would say world class," Broad said. "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.
"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.
"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."
Just what the future holds for two of England's best quicks remains unclear, with England's next Test tour following the West Indies not scheduled to take place until the start of June at home against New Zealand, ICC wrote.
The England and Wales Cricket Board's (ECB) interim managing, Andrew Strauss, has been quoted as saying that the recent selection news does not necessarily mean the end of the careers of Broad and Anderson, two of the highest wicket-takers not just in England but in the world.
"In respect of James Anderson and Stuart Broad, I want to emphasise this does not mean the end for them as England players," Strauss said.
"We feel that it is important to look at some exciting new bowling potential and give some added responsibility to other players who have featured previously. No one doubts the quality and experience that James and Stuart bring to the England set-up. It will be up to the new managing director and permanent head coach to decide on whether they will be involved this summer and beyond."
Broad said he will use the time away from the England side to spend quality time with his family and ponder his future.
"I spoke to my mum Carole on Friday because I am waking up more confused and angrier with each passing day, and she just advised me to take time, step away from the game for a bit and figure things out," Broad added.
"Understandably, people will ask if there has therefore been some fall-out behind the scenes, a bit of a rumble during the Ashes, but I can categorically say that is not the case. Hence, neither Jimmy nor I saw this coming. We were blindsided."
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