England Cricket Team have their line-up for IND vs ENG 2nd Test in Vizag. There are two changes to the Playing XI. Veteran James Anderson replaces Mark Wood while Shoaib Bashir is set for Test debut. Spinner Jack Leach misses out on England Playing XI 2nd Test with a knee injury.
However, England won’t go with an all-spin attack as Ben Stokes said. With the Vizag pitch offering runs on Day 1, England have decided to stick with three-spinner strategy. James Anderson will play his 14th Test in India in the IND vs ENG 2nd Test.
Mark Wood was the only seamer for England in the IND vs ENG 1st Test. However, with Ben Stokes returning to bowling, England will have five bowlers available in their arsenal.
England Playing XI 2nd Test
1. Zak Crawley
2. Ben Duckett
3. Ollie Pope
4. Joe Root
5. Jonny Bairstow
6. Ben Stokes (C)
7. Ben Foakes
8. Rehan Ahmed
9. Tom Hartley
10. Shoaib Bashir
11. James Anderson
No Jack Leach
However, as reported by InsideSport, England will miss the services of their lead spinner Jack Leach. He suffered a knee injury while fielding in the Hyderabad Test.
While he did bowl in the Test, things did not look great in the following days. With three more Tests to go, England have decided to rest Leach from IND vs ENG 2nd Test.
“It’s a big shame. But we’re hopeful it won’t keep him out for too long,” Ben Stokes confirmed to British media on Wednesday,
Young Shoaib Bashir will make his Test debut instead. He missed out on the first Test after a delay in receiving visa. Bashir was a surprising pick having only played 6 First Class matches, picking up 10 wickets.
James Anderson returns
The return of the King James will excite most fans. The veteran England pacer will play his 14th Test match in India. His first Test in India was back in 2006 even before Virat Kohli made his First Class debut.
In 13 matches, Anderson has bagged 34 wickets at an average of 29.32. His best of 4/40 came in his debut Test at the Wankhede Stadium. In Vizag, this will be Anderson’s 2nd Test. In his last Test at the venue back in 2016, he bagged four wickets in the match.
England Squad
Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Jonny Bairstow, Ben Stokes(c), Ben Foakes(w), Rehan Ahmed, Tom Hartley, James Anderson, Mark Wood, Ollie Robinson, Daniel Lawrence, Gus Atkinson
