England have named a 14-member squad for the first Test of the five-match series scheduled against India, starting June 20 at the Headingley in Leeds.
Jamie Overton makes a surprise return to the Test set-up after three years. 21-year-old Jacob Bethell has been included in the squad after impressing in his debut series versus New Zealand, where he scored three fifties.
Gus Atkinson is ruled out due to a hamstring injury, while Chris Woakes and Brydon Carse return after rehab, boosting England’s depleted pace stocks.
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England Pick Jamie Overton, Jacob Bethell in Squad for First India Test
The most notable inclusions in the squad are that of Jamie Overton and Jacob Bethell. Overton has been recalled to the Test team after three years. The all-rounder last played a Test match for England in June 2022 against New Zealand. He scored 97 runs and took two wickets.
Bethell makes a return to the squad after impressing during his previous outings, adding depth to the English top-order.
The squad also sees the return of Brydon Carse and Chris Woakes. Both these players were sidelined due to injuries earlier in the season.
Atkinson is notably absent due to a hamstring injury sustained during the recent Test series against Zimbabwe. His absence is a massive blow to England's pace attack, also because of the unavailability of Mark Wood and Jofra Archer due to ongoing injury concerns, further limiting England's fast bowling resources.
Other obvious names include captain Ben Stokes, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Duckett, Sam Cook, Zak Crawley, Ollie Pope, Jamie Smith, Josh Tongue and Shoaib Bashir.
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England Squad for First Test Match vs India
Ben Stokes (c), Shoaib Bashir, Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook, Brydon Carse, Sam Cook, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Jamie Overton, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Jamie Smith, Josh Tongue, Chris Woakes.
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