(Image source: X.com)
[Saba Sports News] England revealed the names of 16 players, who will travel to India as a part of their squad for the upcoming five-match Test series, starting on January 25 in Hyderabad.
The biggest development comes in the form of Ben Stokes, who is among the pool of 16 players, but will only feature as a batter along side captaining the side. Stokes went under the knife in November for a left knee surgery but is expected to get fit enough to take the field by the time the series start.
Openers Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett have retained their spots after doing well in the Ashes 2023. They will be supported by talented Ollie Pope in the top-order.
Harry Brook, Jonny Bairstow, Ben Foakes and Stokes will shoulder the responsibility to form a solid middle-order. Foakes was dropped from the Ashes squad but has managed to regain his place.
England have decided to go in with as many as four spinners. Off-spinner Shoaib Bashir and left-arm spinner Tom Hartley have received their maiden Test call-ups. Leggie Rehan Ahmed and left-arm tweaker Jack League occupy the other two positions as spinners.
With Stuart Broad not retired, Gus Atkinson have been inserted in. James Anderson will take another tour of India, leading the pace attack. Ollie Robinson and Mark Wood fill in the remaining two slots in the 16-player contingent.
Chris Woakes, Liam Dawson, Dan Lawrence misses out. Will Jacks and Liam Livingstone also failed to make the cut.
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 (c), Mark Wood.