Interim coach Collingwood hints England are ready to break up the Anderson and Broad partnership

Paul Collingwood must make his first contentious call as interim coach on Tuesday when England decide whether the time is right to split up their greatest fast bowling partnership.

Collingwood, entrusted to lead the three-Test tour of the Caribbean next month, will join Andrew Strauss and James Taylor, remotely, in the return of a selection panel charged with launching England’s new red-ball cycle.

And principal among the decisions they must make, in consultation with captain Joe Root, is addressing what has become one of the elephants in the England dressing room – is there still room for both Jimmy Anderson and Stuart Broad?

Paul Collingwood will lead England on the three-Test tour of the Caribbean next month

ENGLAND SQUAD

(possible squad to tour West Indies from Feb 24)

(Root (captain), Crawley, Lees, Malan, Stokes, Bairstow, Foakes, Wood, Robinson, Anderson, Leach, Parkinson, Mahmood, Bohannon, Billings, Fisher. 

It may seem odd to consider leaving out one of the big two when England’s Ashes debacle came down to the batting unit’s repeated struggles to reach 200, let alone 300, in a series so bad it cost Ashley Giles, Chris Silverwood and Graham Thorpe their jobs.

But, while not being anywhere near the same level as the call to ditch Kevin Pietersen after the 2013-14 Ashes whitewash, there is a feeling Root could find it easier to move on as England captain without at least one of his dominant bowling personalities.

It would not be an issue, of course, if Root was a stronger captain and there is no question he is fortunate to have received the full backing of interim managing director Strauss, not least because of the complete absence of leadership alternatives.

Collingwood must decide if there is still room for both Jimmy Anderson and Stuart Broad

Collingwood must decide if there is still room for both Jimmy Anderson and Stuart Broad

Now Collingwood and Strauss must decide whether to extend their support of Root by surrounding him with a mixture of those he feels most comfortable with and some new faces to try to lift the gloom surrounding England’s Test cricket.

Perhaps Collingwood gave a clue as to his and England’s thinking when he said on Monday: ‘I have spoken to Joe Root and Ben Stokes and both are excited and passionate to take the team forward in the new cycle. Although they know it won’t be easy they have the desire and bravery to do things differently to ensure the team can prosper.’

Broad and Anderson will not be the only senior players under scrutiny in the selection meeting as England must also decide whether the time is right to do things differently by moving on from one of Root’s most trusted lieutenants in Jos Buttler.

Buttler is expected to have recovered from the fractured left index finger that forced him home early from Australia but the question is whether he will ever make the impact in Test cricket that has seen him become one of the world’s best white-ball batters.

Captain Joe Root is is fortunate to have received the full backing of interim MD Andrew Strauss

Captain Joe Root is is fortunate to have received the full backing of interim MD Andrew Strauss

The time has surely come for the best keeper in England and probably the world in Ben Foakes to be given an extended run with the gloves. Sam Billings, who deputised for Buttler in the final Test in Hobart, could also get his chance in a new-look squad.

Whether that squad will also include another keeping candidate in Jonny Bairstow remains to be seen. Bairstow made a century in his last Test in Sydney but missed the final match in Hobart with a chipped finger and may be viewed now as one of those Root could do without when today’s new broom sweeps through the dressing room.

That need for batting newcomers, particularly at the top of the order, looks sure to present a chance to Durham’s Alex Lees, at 28, in place of Haseeb Hameed. Lancashire’s Josh Bohannon will also come under consideration while, really, England should have a look at the rare talent that is Liam Livingstone despite his lack of red-ball cricket.

And if either Broad or Anderson, or even both, are left out there could be first Test opportunities for Lancashire’s Saqib Mahmood and Yorkshire’s Matt Fisher while another Lancastrian in leg-spinner Matt Parkinson could back up Jack Leach ahead of Dom Bess.

Saqib Mahmood (above) and Matt Fisher could receive call-ups for next month's tour

Saqib Mahmood (above) and Matt Fisher could receive call-ups for next month’s tour

There is much then for Collingwood, who is on holiday in Barbados after standing in for Silverwood in last month’s Twenty20 series against West Indies, to ponder.

The man who captained England to the Twenty20 World Cup in 2010 and who remains a link to the Ashes winning England side of 2010-11 got the nod over Under 19 coach Richard Dawson once it became clear Strauss wanted to give a chance to a younger coach rather than ask a senior figure like Alec Stewart to take the reins in the short-term.

‘I can’t wait to get started,’ added Collingwood. ‘Having a challenging Test series against West Indies straight off the back of Ashes disappointment gives us a chance to reset and rebuild. We have an opportunity to get back on track.’

But whether Collingwood becomes a candidate for the full-time role or, more likely, becomes white-ball coach if the jobs are split could depend on his ability to distance himself from the players in the Caribbean, particularly in a social environment.

Strauss insists that decision will be one for the full-time managing director he will attempt to find once the immediate priority of personnel for West Indies is resolved. For now there is plenty to keep the interims going – not least the futures of two bowlers with more than 1,100 Test wickets between them. 

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