The England Cricket Board (ECB) on Wednesday named Playing XI for the IND vs ENG 1st Test, starting on January 25 in Hyderabad.
With the pitch set to assist spinners, the visitors have picked three specialist spinners – Rehan Ahmed, Jack Leach and Tom Hartley. Mark Wood has been picked over veteran James Anderson as lone pacer for the opening Test.
England’s Playing XI for 1st Test: Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Jonny Bairstow, Ben Stokes (C), Ben Foakes (Wk), Rehan Ahmed, Tom Hartley, Mark Wood, Jack Leach
Will let pitch do the work: Hartely
24-year-old Tom Hartley will be making his Test debut on Thursday on a pitch which is likely to be spin friendly.
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In an interview with Wisden Cricket Monthly, earlier on Monday, Hartley said that he will let the pitch do the work for him.
“I’ve only been to India once but the pitches just allow you to fire it in, you don’t even have to think about flight or guile or anything like that. You just let the pitch do the work. In county cricket the pitches are a lot flatter, so spinners have to use their wits a bit more, whereas in India you’re the one who’s meant to be in control,” said Hartley.
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