The England media’s reaction to the announcement of the Test squad for the first Test against India at Leeds said much. Be it The Times, London or The Guardian, or even the tabloids, they all led with the news that Jofra Archer was expected to be fit to play the second Test.
The bowling attack for the first Test looks thin with injuries to Archer, Mark Wood and Gus Atkinson – who has taken 55 wickets in 12 Tests – so much so that they have brought in 36-year old Chris Woakes, a good bowler in home conditions but one whose is battling a battered body and has restarted bowling just recently.
The injuries have almost balanced out the two teams, leaving an intriguing prospect on the cards for the first Test – and even beyond that. India won’t have and as they have retired, but it has to be noted that both struggled a lot in Test cricket on their final leg.
A simply HUGE series awaits 🙌
Our squad for the 1st Test is HERE 👇
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More than their batting, their presence, guidance, and energy will probably be missed more. India will also be without , but will take heart from England’s bowling line-up as it presents an untested and inexperienced Indian batting line-up with a decent opportunity to shine. At least better than if the main three English bowlers were present.
Two teams with a certain sense of iffiness and uncertainty would go against each other on June 20. England’s batting certainly seems to be their stronger suit, especially with the inclusion of the attacking Jacob Bethel and the return of attacking wicketkeeper-batsman Jamie Smith. It will be interesting to see if Ollie Pope, the vice-captain, plays or makes way for the 21-year old Bethel.
England’s bowling attack will be led by Brydon Carse and Woakes. James Overton, the 31-year old Surrey seamer thought to be a white-ball specialist, will make a comeback to Tests after three years. Even he is battling a broken finger and is in a race against time to get fit for Leeds. Both Carse and Woakes didn’t play the Test against Zimbabwe in May due to injuries.
Sam Cook, who has the ability to swing the ball, retains his place in the squad along with Josh Tongue. Shoaib Bashir is the lone spinner in the squad. The good news for England is that Ben Stokes has been bowling of late.
England’s choice of bowlers then brings up the question on the kind of pitches that India will face. The presence of looms large, and will play its part in the choice of pitches, if one is to believe English insiders. “Flat and Fast, but not seaming,” was how a source in the know put it. Though how fast it will be without live fresh grass remains to be seen.’
Series Loading : ◼◼◼◻
Who is the first name in your XI?
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Initially, there were reports that pitches might be even a touch dry, considering the heat in the last couple of months. But things have turned, weather-wise, and it’s been raining of late. In England, as said in the departure press conference, much will depend on overhead conditions as they will determine if the ball would swing or not. England have Woakes and Cook to bend the ball in the air, but it will be interesting to see if they can function as a cohesive unit.
England’s batting can be expected to continue their attacking ‘Bazball’ way, and the interesting choice they have to make is between Bethel and Pope.
Chief selector Luke Wright said “He’s very close to it,” when asked if Bethell had been picked to play.
“It’s a great option to have, isn’t it? What a talent we all see in him. I wouldn’t even say it’s a problem, it’s a great issue to have.”
A few days earlier, Ben Stokes had blamed the media on the same issue when he had talked about Bethel. “If you’re smart enough, the series that Beth had out in New Zealand, obviously he’s going to be back in the UK for that India series. So, I think if you put 2 and 2 together, you probably know what’s going to happen.”
Later when it was reported by a section of the media that Bethel will play against India ahead of Pope, the regular No.3, Stokes turned angry.
“There’s always someone going to be under the spotlight,” Stokes told BBC Test Match Special. “We’ve come into this game and I’ve personally felt that it was a bit of a… I don’t know… not a vendetta… but I got asked a simple question about Bethell, said put two and two together, he comes back into the squad. And then, all of a sudden, it turns into something that suits the agenda of the time. He’s (Pope) my vice-captain, and he’s been incredible for me at No.3 and the team. I think he’s averaging over 40 now (43.06 at No.3), so it just suited what was being said, to be honest.”
Australia threw the attacking Sam Konstas against Bumrah in the second half of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, a move that was said to go in their favour. England might be tempted to do the same with Bethel at some point in the series.
England squad for first Test vs India: Shoaib Bashir, Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook, Brydon Carse, Sam Cook, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Jamie Overton, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Jamie Smith (wk), Ben Stokes (capt), Josh Tongue, Chris Woakes.
