Srinagar: Hosts England on Monday, announced its playing XI for the second Test of the five-match series against India, that starts on Wednesday at Edgbaston in Birmingham.
Contrarily the returning pacer Jofra Archer has not been included in the playing XI. His inclusion in the squad had indicated that he would be playing his first Test after more than four years but the hosts decided to keep their lineup unchanged to which secured a dominant five-wicket victory over India by chasing down a daunting 371-run target in the series opener in Leeds.
Zak Crawley and in-form Ben Duckett will continue to open the innings for England with Ollie Pope to follow.
Experienced Joe Root, Harry Brook, skipper Ben Stokes and wicketkeeper batter Jamie Smith will form England’s middle order, while their bowling unit is comprised of three pacers – Chris Woakes, Brydon Carse and Josh Tongue – and spinner Shoaib Bashir.
The series opener saw England staging a remarkable comeback as their Duckett-led batting unit hit back after bowlers conceded 471 runs in the first innings.
England scored 465 in response to India’s first-innings 471, leaving a narrow deficit of just six runs.
The touring side’s batting unit was not all but equally impressive in the second innings, accumulating 364 runs, courtesy of Rishabh Pant’s second consecutive century, to set England a 371-run target.
Chasing 371, England comfortably knocked the winning runs for the loss of five wickets on the back of Duckett’s record-shattering 149-run knock, coupled with experienced Root’s half-century.
Consequently, England lead the ongoing five-match series 1-0.
England playing XI for second Test against India:
Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (c), Jamie Smith (WK), Chris Woakes, Brydon Carse, Josh Tongue and Shoaib Bashir.