Former England captain Nasser Hussain has delivered his verdict on James Anderson and Stuart Broad getting dropped for the upcoming tour of the West Indies.
Anderson and Broad were among eight players axed from England's Ashes squad, with interim managing director Sir Andrew Strauss saying the pair were dropped so they could "look at some exciting new bowling potential and give some added responsibility to other players who have featured previously."
Strauss did stress it "does not mean the end" for Anderson and Broad, adding they "will very much be in the mix" for selection this summer.
However, Hussain believes the duo "deserved better" than getting dropped and he hopes it "isn't the end" for them as Test cricketers.
"There was a lot of talk about maybe one of them being left out, not both, so it's a big call from Andrew Strauss," Hussain told Sky Sports.
"They're very proud cricketers, and it's not easy at their age to suddenly have a massive gap, and I really feel for Broad and Anderson, I have to be honest.
"I think they deserved better. The toil and the pain and the sweat and the hours in the gym to get to where they are, get back to fitness after carrying injuries.
"They know they've not got long left, they know it might be a matter of months or a year maybe, and they would want to play every cricket possible to make sure they are there right at the end of their careers and can say, 'I got as much out of myself as I possibly could'.
"I hope this isn't the end, because I think they deserved better. From what I've seen of them, they like to have a point to prove, the pair of them.
"I'd love to see them in the summer and the skipper has had to call them back in and chuck them that ball.
"If they were a dwindling force, then I'd say 'yeah it's time to move on'. But they are not. They're bowling as well as ever and some opposition batters will be pleased they're not on the teamsheet."