England has announced a 16-member squad for the upcoming five-match Test series against India in January 2024. Despite undergoing knee surgery, Ben Stokes is set to return, and the ECB has introduced three newcomers to the squad, featuring the inclusion of the uncapped pacer Gus Atkinson.
Commencing rehabilitation post his knee surgery, Stokes expresses confidence in making a comeback on January 25, coinciding with the start of the Test series in India.
Shockingly, Chris Woakes was left out of the squad that will travel to India for some unknown bewildering reasons. Woakes was player of the series in the most recent Ashes. This could prove to be a fatal mistake for England when they will tour India for the Test Series.
The recall of seasoned wicketkeeper-batsman Ben Foakes is likely influenced by his impressive performance behind the stumps during the 2021 tour of India. Joining him are two uncapped players: spinner Tom Hartley, who marked his ODI debut against Ireland, and Somerset off-spinner Shoaib Bashir.
For their India tour, England is bringing four spinners, including Rehan Ahmed and Jack Leach, while Joe Root will contribute as a part-time option. In the pace department, Atkinson fills the void left by the now-retired Stuart Broad, joining James Anderson, Mark Wood, and Ollie Robinson, who retain their positions in the squad.
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The upcoming five-match series holds immense significance for England, potentially being a make-or-break situation for their World Test Championship final qualification hopes. With only 19 points remaining out of the 28 earned, England faces a challenging scenario in the WTC points table.
Red-ball coach Brendon McCullum acknowledges the tough nature of the India tour, emphasizing its difficulty. The series kicks off in Hyderabad on January 25, followed by matches in Vizag, Rajkot, Ranchi, and concludes with the final Test scheduled from March 7-11 in the picturesque setting of Dharamsala.
England squad for India Tests: Ben Stokes (c), 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, Mark Wood