England Playing XI – India vs England 1st Test: Another Setback for Joe Root & Co for 1st Test vs India, Ollie Pope doubtful In what comes as a piece of bad news to Joe Root & Co, batsman Ollie Pope is doubtful for the opening Test starting August 4. Pope is yet to fully recover from a thigh injury that he suffered during the T20 Blast for Surrey. A final call is yet to be made by the England team management.
‘A decision is still to be made. ‘I’ve been hitting a lot of balls and trying to do as much running as I can. I’m still feeling it a bit but nothing major,’ Ollie Pope told Dailymail.
‘I’m hopeful but it will be up to the physio and management to manage the risk. It’s trying to make sure that if I do play in this one it won’t create issues for the next four Tests,’ he added.
Earlier Dailymail had reported that medics have advised him not to rush his return.
Also Read: India tour of England: Ben Stokes pulls out of test series vs India citing mental health
England Playing XI: Setback for Joe Root & Co for 1st Test vs India, Ollie Pope doubtful
Ollie Pope wants to establish his place in England’s middle order. He has been out of form in the last 16 innings for England where he has failed to cross 34 (against India).
He could open for England after the openers Zak Crawley and Dom Sibley disappointed England during their tour of India. However, his absence will not have a huge impact on India. The 23-year-old has played 6 Tests against India managing just 207 runs at a below-par average of 18.82. Overall, he has represented England in 19 Tests managing 882 runs. It includes a ton and five fifties.
Meanwhile, Ben Stokes has withdrawn from the upcoming 5-match series citing mental health concerns.
England squad (2 Tests): Joe Root (c), Rory Burns, Craig Overton, Dominic Sibley, Jos Buttler, Mark Wood, Sam Curran, James Anderson, Jonny Bairstow, Dominic Bess, Stuart Broad, Zak Crawley, Haseeb Hameed, Dan Lawrence, Jack Leach, Ollie Pope, Ollie Robinson.
England Playing XI (Predicted)
- Zak Crawley
- Dom Sibley
- Haseeb Hameed
- Joe Root
- Jonny Bairstow
- Jos Buttler
- Sam Curran
- Jack Leach/Dom Bess
- Mark Wood
- Stuart Broad
- James Anderson
England Playing XI: Setback for Joe Root & Co for 1st Test vs India, Ollie Pope doubtful
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