ENG vs IND: Jofra Archer Misses Out As England Announce Squad For First Two Tests
Ollie Robinson will make his comeback in Test cricket against India while fast bowler Jofra Archer could be unavailable for the five-match series.
Ben Stokes and Ollie Robinson returns as the England and Wales Cricket Board, on Wednesday announced the squad for the first two Test matches against India, starting from August 4.
Jofra Archer, however once again failed to make it to the squad. The England and Wales Cricket Board indicated that Archer may not take part in the series at all as he is “not ready at this point to return to Test cricket” while Chris Woakes, who was not named in the squad for the first two Tests, could return later in the series.
Robinson, who was earlier found guilty after his old Tweets resurfaced on internet makes his return to Test cricket. Robinson was given a fine and an eight-match ban five of which are suspended for two years, for “a number of offensive tweets” he sent between 2012 and 2014.
After being rested against New Zealand in the two-Test series, Jos Buttler, Sam Curran along with Ben Stokes have also been included in the 17-member squad. The selectors have given Jonny Bairstow yet another opportunity to revive his Test career.
Spin-bowling all-rounder Moeen Ali has been surprisingly excluded from the squad while opener Haseeb Hammed, part of the County Select XI against India at the warm-up game in Durham, has made the cut.
England’s 17-Man Squad For The First Two Tests Vs India:
Joe Root (c), James Anderson, Jonny Bairstow, Dom Bess, Stuart Broad, Rory Burns, Jos Buttler, Zak Crawley, Sam Curran, Haseeb Hameed, Dan Lawrence, Jack Leach, Ollie Pope, Ollie Robinson, Dom Sibley, Ben Stokes, Mark Wood.
