The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has announced the squad for the 2nd Test against India in Edgbaston. Prior to the Headingley Test, a 14-man team was named. All those players who were part of the squad for the first game will continue, and Jofra Archer, who recently played his first first-class match in 4 years, has been added.
Jofra Archer back, Gus Atkinson missing
Due to consistent injury issues, Archer hadn’t played a red-ball match in 1501 days. But earlier this week, he returned to the County Championship for Surrey. Jofra scored 31 runs with the bat and bowled a frugal 18-over spell while taking a wicket as well against Durham.
England selector Luke Wright had stated that an England Test comeback was on the cards for Jofra. He had stated that the pacer’s fitness would be ascertained only after he played in the County Championship. After one game, it seems like Archer is ready for Test cricket. He had urged England captain Ben Stokes to field him against Zimbabwe, but he struck it down. A month later, he’s back in the Test fold.
One name missing from the squad is Gus Atkinson. The right-arm fast bowler had suffered a hamstring injury while playing a one-off match against Zimbabwe and was ruled out of the West Indies white-ball series and the first India vs England Test. It was expected that he’d return for the second game but it seems like he hasn’t recovered.
England squad for 2nd India Test
Batters: Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Jamie Smith (wk), Jacob Bethell
All-rounders: Ben Stokes (c), Chris Woakes
Bowlers: Josh Tongue, Brydon Carse, Shoaib Bashir, Sam Cook, Jamie Overton, Jofra Archer
Editor's Pick
Cricket
Longer rope for Karun Nair? Ryan ten Doeschate wants more runs from India's No.3
Top Stories
