Jimmy Anderson reveals he has not spoken to England captain Joe Root for WEEKS

Jimmy Anderson says he has ‘stopped trying to make sense’ of England’s decision to drop him and admits he has not spoken to captain Joe Root or anyone at the ECB for weeks.

England’s all-time leading wicket-taker was controversially axed from last month’s 1-0 Test series defeat in West Indies, along with his long-time new-ball partner Stuart Broad.

Anderson insists he has no plans to call time on his international career and is desperate to regain his place for the first Test against New Zealand at Lord’s on June 2.

Jimmy Anderson says he has ‘stopped trying to make sense’ of England’s decision to drop him

He also admits he has not spoken to captain Joe Root or anyone at the ECB for weeks

Jimmy Anderson admits he has not spoken to captain Joe Root or anyone at the ECB for weeks

Anderson along with long-time new-ball partner Stuart Broad were dropped from the squad

Anderson along with long-time new-ball partner Stuart Broad were dropped from the squad

However, he says he is still baffled as to why he was left out of the squad for the Caribbean, with his future in limbo until the ECB appoint a new managing cricket and head coach.

Asked if he understood England’s decision seven weeks on, the 39-year-old replied: ‘Absolutely not. I’ve stopped trying to make sense of it and just put it to one side.

‘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 like I’ve got a lot to offer, not just on the field but off it.

‘I’ve now got to focus on what I can control and that is bowling as well as I possibly can for Lancashire. Try and take as many wickets as I possibly can and see what happens from there.

‘If I can still perform and my body is up to the challenge then I will keep doing that. I have never looked too far ahead.’

Anderson says he is still baffled as to why he was left out of the squad for the Caribbean

Anderson says he is still baffled as to why he was left out of the squad for the Caribbean

Anderson was told of his England omission during a ‘five-minute phone call’ with interim managing director Sir Andrew Strauss in February, while Root said he also spoke to his opening bowler.

However, despite the veteran still having a central contract, he has had no further communication from anyone in a position of power at the ECB.

‘I would have loved a sit-down, face-to-face, I would have loved more than a five minutes phone call, but that’s not always possible,’ admitted Anderson, who is set to play in Lancashire’s second County Championship match against Gloucestershire next week.

‘It feels a bit strange at the minute because I’m still centrally contracted, but not had too much feedback from them at the minute. It is a bit up in the air.

‘I’ve spoken to the head physio but there’s nobody in those positions permanently so I’m presuming that is why I’ve not heard anything. I would expect to hear something once those positions are filled.

He has had no further communication from anyone in a position of power at the ECB

He has had no further communication from anyone in a position of power at the ECB

‘It’s not about me, the team needs a coach in place as soon as possible. It’s not that far until the start of the international summer, so I think the sooner the better. That first Test is in our minds. Being centrally contracted, that is how we should be thinking.’

Following the so-called red-ball ‘reset’ in the wake of the Ashes, Root praised the ‘big improvement’ in England’s attitude in the West Indies.

Some saw that as a swipe at Anderson and Broad but asked if he was difficult to captain, the seamer insisted: ‘Not really. I’ve done what I did for quite a long period of time.

‘I feel like I know what I’m doing. I don’t think I’m extremely stubborn. I will take advice and feedback from people. You’d have to ask Joe what he means by that.

‘Our Test form has been poor for two years. I think it is a natural thing that everything comes under scrutiny. I’m not too sure what the “reset” thing actually means.’

In Anderson’s absence in the Caribbean, his Lancashire team-mate Saqib Mahmood impressed and they could now be vying for spots in the same Test team.

‘It was no surprise to me and I was delighted that he performed well on difficult pitches for a seamer,’ added Anderson.

‘He is my team-mate so I want him to do well. I will help him out. 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.’

Anderson hopes to play four County Championship games before the New Zealand series, which is good news for Lancashire coach Glen Chapple.

Anderson will play for Lancashire in the County Championship under coach Glen Chapple (L)

Anderson will play for Lancashire in the County Championship under coach Glen Chapple (L)

‘In my mind, Jimmy is as strong as ever,’ said Chapple. ‘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.

‘That is still evident. Whether he has any more in there I don’t know, but I’ll happily take what we have had for the last few years. He is still the best bowler in the country, end of.

‘It is 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.’

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