With eyes set on replicating the historic feat of 2012, England captain Ben Stokes has unveiled a surprise-filled 16-member squad for the upcoming Test series against India. In a bid to conquer the subcontinent once again, the team welcomes three uncapped players: fast bowler Gus Atkinson and spinners Tom Hartley and Shoaib Bashir.
Atkinson, 25, has already generated buzz as a future star. Fresh from a successful County campaign with Surrey, where he captured 20 wickets, Atkinson is expected to make his Test debut. His presence strengthens the pace attack, especially considering the historically pace-friendly surfaces of Hyderabad, Vizag, and Dharamsala.
The inclusion of Hartley, 24, and Bashir, 19, adds intrigue to the squad. While less known compared to Atkinson, their selections are no less significant. Hartley, with his impressive height and ability to exploit slight spin, is expected to trouble the Indian batters. Bashir, a talented off-spinner, impressed with a six-wicket haul against Afghanistan A, showcasing his potential to exploit unfamiliar matchups.
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Interestingly, the squad boasts three spinners, including the young and talented Rehan Ahmed. The 19-year-old leg-spinner, who made history as England’s youngest Test debutant last year, is back in the mix after a strong showing against Pakistan.
🚨 England have announced their squad for the #INDvENG Test series begining in January 2024
🏏 Four specialist spinners in the squad
✅ Foakes recalled, Pope and Leach return
❌ Woakes, Lawrence, Jacks and Dawson won’t feature pic.twitter.com/PciY1ixtkv— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) December 11, 2023
Other key additions include wicketkeeper-batter Ben Woakes, returning after an Ashes snub, and left-arm spinner Jack Leach, who troubled India in the 2021 series. Ollie Pope also makes a comeback after recovering from injury.
With veterans James Anderson, Ollie Robinson, and Mark Wood leading the pace attack, England’s squad presents a potent mix of experience and promising talent. Their preparation for the series will begin with a short camp in the UAE, further honing their skills before the first Test in January.
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This bold selection strategy sends a clear message – England are hungry to win and willing to explore all options to conquer India on their home soil. Whether these mystery picks will bring them success remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: the series promises to be an exciting battle between two cricketing giants.
England Test squad: Rehan Ahmed, James Anderson, Gus Atkinson, Jonny Bairstow, Shoaib Bashir, Harry Brook, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ben Foakes, Tom Hartley, Jack Leach, Ollie Pope, Ollie Robinson, Joe Root, Ben Stokes (captain), Mark Wood
