There has been growing thoughts among the famous voices of the English Cricket fraternity recently that it is time, ahead of the 2019 Ashes, to think of life beyond Jimmy Anderson and Stuart Broad. The former three lions captain Michel Vaughan had gone on to even suggest, after the one-sided defeat at the hands of a young and driven Pakistan side at Lord's, that the duo should be dropped from the side ahead of the next Test in Headingley. 

The numbers are showing a different view, though. James Anderson has averaged only 19 for his wickets in the last one year and some of the spells that Stuart Broad and his partner bowled in the win at Leeds, were rewinding the clock stuff. 

Andrew Flintoff, another former English cricketer, has taken this game as an evidence to prove his point. He was recently quoted saying on Sky Sports that, "How can you? (drop them), Jimmy Anderson has got a lot of wickets, Stuart Broad has got a lot as well, and their recent records are alright too. They take a bit of criticism and they come back strong. It beggars belief, it really does"

"There are areas in which the side can improve but from the bowling department, those two are the best we have had so we have got to stick with them for a while longer."

The ex-allrounder is quite pleased with England's performance in that second match and feels it should spur them on for the India series later in the summer. 

"It was an important win and they played quite well, but I think they will be kicking themselves, They should have won at Lord's as well. After the first Test match, everyone was talking up Pakistan and they were alright. I think we just underperformed"

"We are starting to put it together. We have got a good side with a few new inclusions and Jos Buttler coming in, who I think is a very lucky lad to be playing Test cricket. He has got to take his chance and he has grabbed it with both hands. I wouldn't say he has cemented his spot but he is going to be there for a while now. The signs are good for England, but let's not get carried away."

(Inputs from Sky Sports)