Former England cricketer Darren Gough, who has played 159 ODIs and 58 Tests, is shocked with England’s decision to drop the experienced pacer Stuart Broad in the first Test match against West Indies, which is being played in Southampton.
Apart from Stuart Broad, the allrounder Chris Woakes has also been dropped from the first Test while Mark Wood and Jofra Archer alongside James Anderson have been included in the playing XI.
The interim captain Ben Stokes, who took the place of regular Test captain Joe Root as he attends his childbirth, had opined that it was a tough decision to drop Broad and Woakes.
“Very, very tough decision with [leaving out] Broad and Woakes but we feel with Woody and Jofra’s pace it adds another dimension,” Stokes said.
Interestingly, Stuart Broad will miss his first home England Test since 2012
However, the veteran Darren Gough is disappointed with his countrymen’s decision. He believes that Stuart Broad would have formed a perfect pair with James Anderson for the conditions in Southampton. He even said that the team should have shown respect and trusted the experience that Broad carries.
I am really surprised: Darren Gough on Stuart Broad being sidelined
“(I’m) really surprised,” Gough said on a Sky Sports’ show.
“Because when you talk about sticking with players , I thought with the Broad situation, he has stood up and been counted for England over the past few years, when Jimmy has been limping out of games with injury,” he added.
“I would’ve played both Broad and Anderson in this game – I think they deserve that respect – and then then I would’ve gone for one of Wood or Archer,” he maintained.
Meanwhile, the first day of the first Test match was interrupted by rain and the day ended with England at 35 for one. The West Indies fast bowler Shannon Gabriel picked the wicket of the opening batsman Dominic Sibley for a duck.