Stuart Broad has acknowledged that he has been left angry and frustrated after being left of the England squad for the upcoming tour of the West Indies.
Broad, along with fellow veteran James Anderson, was two of many notable absentees from the group which recently faced Australia in the Ashes.
However, Broad was one of the top performing bowlers, taking 13 wickets over three matches at an average of 26.3, and being dropped on the back of a solid showing against the Baggy Greens has infuriated the 35-year-old.
In his column with the Daily Mail, Broad said: "I always try to find a positive in the hand that has been dealt to me. To be honest, though, that's been quite tricky this time because the decision to leave me out of the tour of West Indies has hit me pretty hard.
"Not to big it up too much but it has affected my sleep. I said to my partner Mollie one morning that my body felt sore. She suggested that would be stress. No, I can't pretend I am as good as gold, because I am not. It would be wrong to act like everything's OK.
"I took 11 wickets in the final two Ashes matches, I have been Test match standard for a long time and, for the last eight years, you would say world class, and so, it makes it even more upsetting that they don't see me part of their immediate plans, especially with a view to looking at a way of winning away from home, which was briefly explained to me.
"Playing Test match cricket for your country is one of the biggest honours you can have as a cricketer. I felt when I started out on this journey back in 2007 that I had to earn every single cap and that the best team would take the field in a bid to try to win every game.
"That is why I'm finding it hard to put it into context. I could take being dropped if I had let my standards slip but facing up to being overlooked when they haven't is another thing altogether."
Interim coach Paul Collingwood and interim director Andrew Strauss are said to be keen for other members of the squad to take on more responsibility and start to build towards the future, even though it has been claimed that Broad and Anderson remain in contention for the summer.
Darren Plant
