Shocking! England Drops Ashes Star All-Rounder for India Tour

Chris Woakes has been dropped.

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.

Also read: CSK to go after Daryl Mitchell in IPL 2024 Auction- Here’s Why Dhoni Needs Him

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

IPL 2024

Related articles

IPL 2025, RCB vs RR- Bengaluru Pitch Report and Weather Forecast Today Match

The 42nd match of IPL 2025 will see Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) take on Rajasthan Royals (RR) at the iconic M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in...

IPL 2025 Orange and Purple Cap List- SKY Reaches Number 3

Under the leadership of Hardik Pandya, Mumbai Indians registered their fourth consecutive win by defeating Sunrisers Hyderabad by 7 wickets. The star performer with...

BCCI Central Contract 2025: 34 Players Including Shreyas Iyer Get Lucky, Awarded Central Contracts – What Happened to Ishan Kishan?

BCCI Central Contract 2025 Announced: Shreyas Iyer, Ishan Kishan Return to the List of 34 Players The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI)...

KKR vs GT, IPL 2025- Eden Gardens Pitch Report Today Match

The 39th match of IPL 2025 between Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Gujarat Titans (GT) will be played at Eden Gardens. KKR comes into...

Suryakumar Makes a Strong Entry in IPL 2025 Orange Cap Race; Who is Owning the Purple Cap?

There have been consistent changes in the Orange Cap race in IPL 2025. Even after the double header on Sunday (April 20), there was...

RR vs LSG, IPL 2025- Sawai Mansingh Stadium Pitch Report Today Match

The 36th match of IPL 2025 between Rajasthan Royals (RR) and Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) will be played today, Saturday, 19th April, at the...

RCB vs PBKS Playing 11: Punjab Likely to Make Major Changes Despite Win, Set to Clash with RCB in Bengaluru

In the 34th match of the Indian Premier League 2025, Royal Challengers Bengaluru will face off against Punjab Kings today at the M. Chinnaswamy...

RCB vs PBKS, IPL 2025- Chinnaswamy Stadium Pitch Report Today Match

The IPL 2025 clash between Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Punjab Kings (PBKS) will be held on Friday at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in...