Rob Key has reportedly already held talks with James Anderson and Stuart Broad about their England futures, after the veteran seamers were controversially axed for last month's tour of the West Indies.
The pair were dropped for the series, which England lost 1-0, with interim managing director Sir Andrew stating the decision was made so they could "look at some exciting new bowling potential and give some added responsibility to other players who have featured previously."
However, Key, who was recently appointed Managing Director of England Men's Cricket, was critical of the decision while working as a pundit. He told Sky Sports: "Under no circumstance are Broad and Anderson not the best bowlers, not the best people as well."
And according to a report from the Daily Mail, he has already been in contact with Anderson and Broad to discuss their future. Although Key did not officially start in his new role until Tuesday, the report states that he contacted the duo 'on Easter Sunday before he was officially unveiled as the successor to Ashley Giles'.
It is also stated that Key was 'checking their availability for the first Test against New Zealand at Lord's on June 2', suggesting the pair are in line for a recall. Both Anderson and Broad have been outspoken about their desire to win their places back this summer.
"That first Test is in our minds," Anderson said last month. "Being centrally contracted, that is how we should be thinking.
"It is trying to find a balance of playing enough but not being overworked before that first Test. If I think of how I build up to a Test series, I want to be in as good form as possible going into that series.
"The best way of doing that is performing for Lancashire, trying to win games of cricket. That's been my mindset forever really: performing as well as I possibly can here and hopefully those performances will lead to a call-up and if not then at least we will get off to a good start to the season."
Broad, meanwhile, wrote in the Daily Mail : "I am not currently in possession of a shirt within the England Test team and my focus is very much on changing that by taking wickets for Nottinghamshire over the next few weeks."
