James Anderson: I've stopped trying to make sense of West Indies snub

The England veteran wasn't selected for the red-ball tour of the Caribbean but has now turned his attention to representing Lancashire and using the county season as a springboard back into the Test side

James Anderson has "stopped trying to make sense" of England's decision to drop him for the recent Test tour of the Caribbean.

The omission of both himself and Stuart Broad – who boast a combined 1,177 Test wickets – from the three-Test series not only sent shockwaves through English cricket when it was announced on February 8 but was called into question on multiple occasions during the tour in light of Chris Woakes' well-documented overseas struggles, series-ending injuries to Ollie Robinson and Mark Wood, and the pre-series plan to manage Ben Stokes' workload with the ball.

And speaking at Lancashire's pre-season media day, it is clear the 39-year-old, who in the five years preceding his omission picked up 173 Test wickets at 21.41, is still baffled by his red-ball snub.

"Absolutely not," he replied, when asked if he understands the ECB's decision. "I've stopped trying to make sense of it and just put it to one side. It was completely out of my control.

"It is what it is. Something like this, for me, it's quite a big deal because it came out of the blue. I still feel like I'm bowling well. I was in the top-10 of the world rankings, so I feel like I'm doing a good job for the team. I feel I've got a lot to offer, not just on the field but off it."

^{Anderson and Stuart Broad were both omitted from England's squad to face West Indies [Cameron Spencer/Getty Images]}

The veteran seamer also lamented the lack of communication surrounding his absence from the England team, admitting he's had limited contact with senior figures in the ECB despite his status as a centrally contracted player.

"I've spoken to the head physio," he said. "It's a bit strange because I'm centrally contracted but I've not had too much feedback from them. It's difficult because there's nobody in those positions (head coach and managing director), so I'm presuming that's why I've not heard anything.

"I would have loved a sit-down, face-to-face, but that's not always possible in these situations. I would have loved more than a five-minute phone call."

However, instead of dwelling on past decisions and England's ongoing red-ball reset – "I still don't really know what that means" – Anderson is concentrating his attention on his two-month stint with Lancashire and using it as a springboard for a return to the Test side.

"In my mind, Jimmy is still as strong as ever. I don't understand it. He is still the best bowler in the country, end of."

Glen Chapple

Like Broad, who missed Nottinghamshire's season opener against Sussex, he is not planning on playing every week, instead anticipating getting three or four matches under his belt from Lancashire's initial six-match block in order to enter June – the start of England's Test summer – in peak condition.

With that in mind, he is not expected to play against Kent on Thursday, instead beginning his county season against Gloucestershire at Emirates Old Trafford a week later.

"That first Test [against New Zealand in June] is on our minds. Being centrally contracted, that is how we should be thinking," he said. "It's about trying to find a balance of playing enough but not being overworked for that first Test.

"I want to be in as good form as possible going into that series. For me, the best way of doing that is performing for Lancashire and trying to win games of cricket. That's been my mindset forever really – performing as well as I possibly can here and hopefully, those performances will lead to a call-up. If not, then at least we get off to a good start to the season.

^{Anderson bowling for Lancashire in 2021 [Gareth Copley/Getty Images]}

"It's a bit up in the air in terms of England. What I can focus on, and control, is playing for Lancashire. Having a good two months with Lancashire is going to be exciting for me."

Should an England recall not materialise, however, Anderson will not rush into any decisions about his future and has committed to at least finishing the 2022 season.

"My focus always has been, if I can still perform and my body is up to the challenge then I will keep doing [it]. If what has happened in the last couple of months had affected me, I wouldn't have enjoyed coming and doing the gym with the lads and putting in the yards there, but I still love doing that, so I keep going.

"If the England call doesn't come, I will still play here (Lancashire) this season. I've never looked too far ahead in my career; it's always game by game, series by series, season by season."

From a Lancashire perspective, head coach Glen Chapple is as confused as Anderson by the events of the past few months, labelling the Burnley native "the best bowler in the country", but is also relishing the opportunity of having him in and around the Lancashire XI once again and bowling with a point to prove.

"Something like this, for me, it's quite a big deal because it came out of the blue"

"In my mind, Jimmy is still as strong as ever," Chapple said. "All we have seen from Jimmy from the last 15 years is a great professional looking to be as good as he can be every day. I am sure he is [still hurting]. I don't understand it. He is still the best bowler in the country, end of.

"It's different than in previous years when you knew he was going to be selected in the England team. He will want to put a marker down, certainly."

Anderson has been back in training with Lancashire over the past few weeks, spending time in the gym and sporadically bowling outdoors when the Manchester weather allows. And recently, he's been face to face in the club's seam ranks with Saqib Mahmood, who made his Test debut in the West Indies and will be in the mix to retain his place for the New Zealand series in June.

However, he quickly laughs off any suggestions of awkwardness or competition for places between himself and Mahmood: "He is my teammate and I want him to do well – I'm not going to two-foot him if we play football! It's not between me and Saqib for an England place. I don't see it that way; we are different bowlers.

^{Lancashire head coach Glen Chapple (right) believes Anderson is still the best bowler in the country [Gareth Copley/Getty Images]}

"Having seen him and played with him and how he made the step up to ODIs in the summer, it didn't come as a surprise that he performed well. He's a natural competitor and a really promising bowler who will have a really successful international career. I was delighted he performed well."

As for Lancashire's chances this season, Anderson, who took 11 wickets in four appearances in 2021, is confident they can banish the hurt of missing out on the title by 3.5 points last season and go all the way.

"It was a disappointing finish to the Championship last year. I think we have got a squad that can go all the way and that starts this week. I don't see any negative effect from last year. There's a real hunger to go one further."