The England Cricket Board (ECB) has announced the squad for the first two games of the 4-match Test series against India starting on 5 February. Fast bowler Jofra Archer and all-rounder Ben Stokes have returned to the team. Meanwhile, Rory Burns has also been included in the team. At the same time, veteran wicketkeeper-batsman Johnny Bairstow, Sam Curran and Mark Wood have been rested for the first two Tests in the forthcoming India tour.
The ECB issued a statement saying that Ollie Pope is recovering from a shoulder injury and will be included to the squad only when he passes a fitness test. At the same time, Bairstow, Sam Karen and Mark Wood have been relaxed under the rotation policy.
England’s Skipper Joe Root in great form:
England captain Joe Root’s form could be a threat to India. He has scored a double century in the ongoing series with Sri Lanka. He scored 228 runs off 291 balls. Root is the first England captain to score a double century in Tests. He is also the second England batsman to complete 8,000 runs in England’s shortest innings.
This is the fourth double century of Root’s career. He has scored two double centuries out of 4 against Sri Lanka. Root had earlier scored a double century against Sri Lanka in the Tests played at Lord’s in 2014.
England team for first two Tests:
Joe Root (captain), Jofra Archer, Moeen Ali, James Anderson, Dom Bess, Stuart Broad, Rory Burns, Jos Buttler, Zak Crawley, Ben Foakes, Dan Lawrence, Jack Leach, Dom Sibley, Ben Stokes, Olly Stone, Chris Woakes.
Reserves: James Bracey, Mason Crane, Saqib Mahmood, Matthew Parkinson, Ollie Robinson, Amar Virdi.
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