Former captain Andrew Strauss lauded James Anderson and Stuart Broad, calling them "two of England's greatest" bowlers in the history of Test cricket.
Strauss paid tribute to the duo's longevity, as Anderson continues from strength to strength, overcoming various injury setbacks in the recent past, while Broad, three years younger, remains his ideal foil at the top-level and a champion bowler in his own right.
"They've been a phenomenal opening partnership, that goes without saying," Strauss told reporters. "They are two of England's greatest of all time."
"What has really impressed me with both of them is their hunger to continue. For the two of them to be so hungry is extraordinary."
In the ongoing third and final Test against the West Indies in Manchester, Broad followed his six-fer in the first innings with another two scalps near the end of Day 3. The rain played spoilsport on Monday, but the pacer will have his opportunity to become only the second England bowler behind Anderson to take 500 Test wickets when the impregnable chase of 399 resumes for West Indies on Tuesday (July 28).
"I honestly don't believe Stuart Broad has bowled much better than this. There were a couple of years where perhaps he 'lost' his wrist a bit and it was hard work for him bowling to right-handers," said Strauss. "This series so far he seems to be equally potent against left and right-handers."
Broad was left out of the first Test in Southampton, but has since wreaked havoc on the visiting batsmen. "He is at his best when he has something to prove," said Strauss. "He's had the bit between his teeth in these last two Test matches and that has served him particularly well over the course of his career."
Speculations have been rife about the future of both Anderson and Broad, with skipper Joe Root himself suggesting that they might not feature together in too many Test matches.
The team management wishes to prolong their stay and infuse more pace in the attack by encouraging the likes of Jofra Archer, Mark Wood keeping in mind the next Ashes in Australia.
Strauss, however, said: "for all of us let's write them off at our peril and let's not be in a hurry to pension them off because they have both got a lot more to offer England."
(Inputs from AFP)
