England team management has decided to include James Vince in the 14-man squad for the fourth Test of the 5-match series against India, starting at the Ageas Bowl next Thursday. Vince has been included as the cover for Jonny Bairstow, who sustained a fracture in his finger during England’s defeat in Nottingham.

Vince played his last Test match in April on England’s tour of New Zealand, before being dropped at the start of the home summer. He has been in good form for Hampshire, with innings of 74 and 147 against Nottinghamshire this week. Vince is only likely to play if Bairstow is deemed unfit as the team management is hopeful that Bairstow will be able to feature as a specialist batsman, with Jos Buttler set to remain behind the stumps after taking over wicketkeeping duties during the third Test and subsequently scoring his maiden century as well.

The only other change to the squad is Jamie Porter missing out, primarily to be available for Essex for the County Championship. Keaton Jennings and Alastair Cook have been retained as openers despite neither reaching fifty in the series so far.

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Explaining the inclusions, chief selector, Ed Smith said, “James Vince will provide cover in case Jonny Bairstow’s fractured finger prevents him playing in the fourth Test match. James returns to the England set-up in confident form and scoring runs. He has been in excellent form for Hampshire in the Specsavers County Championship. Jamie Porter has been part of the last three Test squads. But the selection panel did not want him to miss the opportunity of playing for Essex in the next round of Championship matches.”

Bairstow’s injury could help provide a partial solution to England’s recent batting woes. If he is passed fit as a batsman, he is likely to move up the order to No. 4, allowing Ollie Pope, who is two Tests into his international career, to move down. Moeen Ali, who scored a double-hundred for Worcestershire at Scarborough in the week, is also an option to come in.

England squad:

Joe Root (capt), Moeen Ali, James Anderson, Jonny Bairstow, Stuart Broad, Jos Buttler, Alastair Cook, Sam Curran, Keaton Jennings, Ollie Pope, Adil Rashid, Ben Stokes, James Vince, Chris Woakes