The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has announced the squad for the third Test against India to be played in Leeds on August 25. Dawid Malan has received a callback after three years of his last Test appearance.
Dom Sibley, Zak Crawley and Jack Leach have been dropped from the squad after England’s defeat in the Lord’s Test.
Also Read: Dawid Malan reveals the name of the youngster who could shine in future
The pressure was pilling upon England’s top-order after consecutive failures. Rory Burns scored 49 runs in the first innings, which eventually saved his place in the squad. Sibley and Burns bagged duck in the second innings, making it the first instance for England in a home Test.
Dawid Malan is likely to bat at number three in Leeds after several experts backed him to be included in the squad. He played his last Test in 2018 against India at Edgbaston. Haseeb Hameed, who batted at number three in Lord’s, will move to open the innings.
Zak Crawley was dropped from the playing XI after the Nottingham Test and was subsequently dropped from the squad as well.
“Zak Crawley will return to Kent to galvanise the excellent work he did last week in the nets at Lord’s with assistant coach Graham Thorpe. Zak is still a massive part of our plans moving forward, but we feel he would benefit from time outside the pressure of international competition to get some time working on his skills. He has a bright future and I do not doubt that his time will come again in the Test arena,” said England head coach Chris Silverwood.
Also Read: Dom Sibley needs to be dropped for Headingley Test, feels Andrew Strauss
“Dom Sibley needs some time away to regain his confidence after a challenging period. He will return to Warwickshire to spend time in the middle without the scrutiny and find some rhythm and confidence. Dom offers a lot of value to the Test environment and some time away should help him. However, he remains part of our plans.”
Saqib Mahmood is also named in the squad, who was called in as a cover for injured Stuart Broad. Mark Wood remains in the squad despite injuring his shoulder during day four of the Lord’s Test.
Team India put a remarkable turnaround in the Lord’s Test to win the game by 151 runs. The third Test at Headingley will commence on August 25 with India being 1-0 ahead in the five-match Test series.
England squad for the third Test vs India: Joe Root (c), Moeen Ali, James Anderson, Jonathan Bairstow, Rory Burns, Jos Buttler, Sam Curran, Haseeb Hameed, Dan Lawrence, Saqib Mahmood, Dawid Malan, Craig Overton, Ollie Pope, Ollie Robinson, Mark Wood.
