England are set to host India in a much-anticipated five-match Test series, beginning later this month. With preparations in full swing, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has announced a 14-member squad for the opening Test, scheduled to be played at Headingley from June 20 to 24. The selection reflects both tactical adjustments and injury-enforced changes as England look to begin the summer on a strong note.
Jacob Bethell returns to the Test outfit
Jacob Bethell missed last month’s rout of Zimbabwe while fulfilling IPL commitments, yet three half-centuries at No 3 on England’s winter tour of New Zealand proved impossible to ignore. The 21-year-old left-hander’s return raises the tantalising possibility of a reshuffle in the top order, with either opener Zak Crawley or incumbent first drop Ollie Pope—both fresh from hundreds at Trent Bridge—potentially making way.
Gus Atkinson ruled out
A hamstring strain has ruled out rising speedster Gus Atkinson. His untimely setback has paved the way for a trio of fit-again quicks—Brydon Carse, Chris Woakes and seam-bowling all-rounder Jamie Overton—to re-enter the frame. They join emerging duo Sam Cook and Josh Tongue, both retained after impressing against Zimbabwe, while Matthew Potts slips out of the 14-man party entirely.
Captain Ben Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum now face a delicate balancing act: squeeze Bethell’s attacking flair into a batting line-up already brimming with run-scorers, or stick with the tried-and-trusted pairing of Crawley and Pope that overwhelmed Zimbabwe. How they solve that conundrum could shape the rest of the summer.
England squad for the first Test against India: Ben Stokes (captain), Shoaib Bashir, Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook, Brydon Carse, Sam Cook, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Jamie Overton, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Jamie Smith, Josh Tongue, Chris Woakes
