Three uncapped players named in England squad for India Tests

LONDON: The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) on Monday, announced a 16-man squad for the five-match away Test series against India, featuring three uncapped players Shoaib Bashir, Gus Atkinson and Tom Hartley.

Atkinson had a remarkable stint in the County Championship when he picked up 20 wickets in five matches at an average of 20.20, playing a pivotal role in Surrey claiming back-to-back titles.

Hartley and Bashir, on the other hand, were both part of the England Lions squad that trained in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) last month.

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Shoaib Bashir, who made his professional debut in June after signing a professional contract with Somerset, has thus far played only six first-class matches and picked up 10 wickets at an average of 67.

Hartley too, has a modest first-class record for Lancashire, with 40 career wickets at 36.57.

Meanwhile, England Test captain Ben Stokes, who recently underwent knee surgery last month, is also included in the squad.

However, it remains uncertain whether the dynamic all-rounder would be fit enough to bowl in the series.

Ben Foakes, who was dropped for the Ashes, has been recalled for the India Tests, while Jack Leach and Ollie Pope both return to the squad after recovering from back and shoulder injuries during the English summer.

England’s 16-man squad for the India Tests features four spinners and as many pacers.

England Test squad: Rehan Ahmed, James Anderson, Gus Atkinson, Jonny Bairstow, Shoaib Bashir, Harry Brook, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ben Foakes, Tom Hartley, Jack Leach, Ollie Pope, Ollie Robinson, Joe Root, Ben Stokes (captain), Mark Wood.

England’s Tour of India Itinerary:

1st Test: India v England, 25-29 January, Hyderabad
2nd Test: India v England, 2-6 February, Vizag
3rd Test: India v England, 15-19 February, Rajkot
4th Test: India v England, 23-27 February, Ranchi
5th Test: India v England, 7-11 March, Dharamsala

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Bairstow returns as England announce squad for Ireland Test

LONDON: England Cricket Board on Tuesday announced a 15-member squad for the one-off Test against Ireland at Lord’s, marking the return of Jonny Bairstow after a prolonged injury layoff. 

With the wicket-keeper batter back in the side, Ben Foakes has been dropped from the team.

Bairstow last played international cricket in September 2021, before a golf accident left him with a fractured leg and dislocated ankle. He missed all of England’s winter programme, including the T20I megaevent in Australia, where his team became the World champions for the second time.

He returned to action only recently in the County Championship for Yorkshire and now looks ready to take the gloves during the Ashes, which begins on June 16.

Another positive for England is the inclusion of James Anderson, who suffered a minor injury while bowling on the opening day of Lancashire’s County clash against Somerset.

The ECB said that they would evaluate his fitness before the Ireland Test and his inclusion bodes well for the hosts.

Fast bowlers Mark Wood and Chris Woakes have also been recalled, with the latter coming back in the Test squad for the first time since March 2022 and if selected, it will be his first Test on home soil in the last two years.

Meanwhile, Jofra Archer, who returned from the ongoing IPL to assess discomfort in his elbow, was not considered after being ruled out for the remaining summer with a recurrence of a stress fracture to his right elbow.

Ben Stokes will be leading the side with right-handed batter Ollie Pope as his deputy.

“We are looking forward to the summer ahead and getting into the swing of things, starting with a good test against Ireland,” said ECB Managing Director for England Men’s Cricket Rob Key.

“It was a seriously tough decision to leave Ben Foakes out of the squad. He has been excellent for England in the last year, but Jonny Bairstow is one of the best players in the world whose performances last summer epitomised what we are about.

“It has been a frustrating and upsetting period for Jofra Archer. He was making good progress until a recurrence of the elbow injury, which kept him out for an extended period previously. We wish him the best of luck with his recovery. I’m sure we will see Jofra back to his best and winning games for England, whatever the format. Hopefully, sooner rather than later.

“I would like to wish the players every success, especially those returning after some time away,” he concluded.

The four-day Test will be played from 1 to 4 June at the Lord’s Cricket Ground, London and will only be the second time when the two nations play a red-ball game. Interestingly, the first one, played in 2019 was also a four-day affair, which England won by 143 runs.

With the home Ashes against Australia in sight, England will be looking forward to getting some game time before facing their arch-rivals.

SQUAD: Ben Stokes (c), James Anderson, Jonathan Bairstow, Stuart Broad, Harry Brook, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Dan Lawrence, Jack Leach, Ollie Pope, Matthew Potts, Ollie Robinson, Joe Root, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood.

READ: Stokes fitness doubt in latest England Ashes scare

 

England recalls Alex Hales for Pakistan tour and T20 World Cup

LONDON: England recalled opener, Alex Hales, as a replacement for the injured Jonny Bairstow for the forthcoming T20I tour of Pakistan and ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in Australia. 

According to the details, England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) on Wednesday included the explosive opener, Hales, in England’s T20I World Cup squad after Jonny Bairstow has been ruled out of the tournament following a knee ankle injury that he endured last week.

Hales makes a return to the England side after three years as he last represented the country in March 2019.

Hales has also been a key overseas player in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) where he has represented Islamabad United and Karachi Kings in the previous editions.

It is pertinent to mention here that England will be touring Pakistan for the first time after 17 years, to play the seven-match T20I series in Karachi and Lahore from September 20 to October 2.

England Squad for T20 World Cup: Jos Buttler (captain), Moeen Ali, Harry Brook, Sam Curran, Alex Hales, Chris Jordan, Liam Livingstone, Dawid Malan, Adil Rashid, Phil Salt, Ben Stokes, Reece Topley, David Willey, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood.

England Squad for Pakistan T20Is: Jos Buttler (c), Moeen Ali, Harry Brook, Jordan Cox, Sam Curran, Ben Duckett, Liam Dawson, Richard Gleeson, Alex Hales. Tom Helm, Will Jacks, Dawid Malan, Adil Rashid, Phil Salt, Olly Stone, Reece Topley, David Willey, Chris Woakes, Luke Wood, Mark Wood.

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