England has decided to stick with Ollie Pope, omitting Jacob Bethell while bringing back seam bowlers Chris Woakes and Brydon Carse for the upcoming first Test against India at Headingley.
Pope will bat at No. 3 in the Leeds Test, which will be broadcast live on Sky Sports starting Friday at 11 am, following his impressive score of 171 during the rout of Zimbabwe at Trent Bridge in May.
Bethell, who missed that match due to his IPL commitments with Royal Challengers Bengaluru, drew attention for a strong start to his England career, prompting many to call for his swift re-inclusion.
At 21 years old, Bethell has shown promise, scoring three half-centuries while batting at No. 3 in New Zealand during his debut Test series and delivering a standout performance in white-ball matches against the West Indies, especially with his 82 off 53 balls in the first ODI.
While Bethell’s left-arm spin could have been useful on what is expected to be a dry pitch due to the hot weather, Pope’s selection comes despite his average of just 24.60 against India, significantly lower than his overall average of 35.49.
Woakes and Carse Return; Cook and Injured Atkinson Dropped
Recovering Woakes and Carse, who missed the Zimbabwe test due to ankle and toe injuries, replace Sam Cook and the injured Gus Atkinson. Carse aims to make his debut in a home Test, having taken 27 wickets in five matches during recent tours of Pakistan and New Zealand.
Atkinson is still nursing a hamstring injury he sustained in the series against Zimbabwe, while Cook is left out following a lackluster debut where he only claimed a single wicket. Woakes and Carse, alongside Josh Tongue and captain Ben Stokes, will form the pace attack, with Shoaib Bashir acting as the spinner.
India Aims to Uplift Spirits Following Tragic Air Crash
Indian vice-captain Rishabh Pant, slated to bat at No. 5, expressed hope that their performance could uplift the nation following last week’s tragic Air India plane crash that claimed over 270 lives. “We want to bring happiness back to the country, and we promise to give our best,” Pant affirmed.
Even in the absence of veteran players like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, who have recently retired, Pant emphasized viewing the series as a chance to showcase the team’s talent without dwelling on past events. “We are focused on playing positive and brave cricket, while respecting the conditions around us,” he added.
England vs. India Test Series Overview
All games start at 11 am UK time; all live on Sky Sports
- First Test: Friday, June 20-Tuesday, June 24 – Headingley
- Second Test: Wednesday, July 2-Sunday, July 6 – Edgbaston
- Third Test: Thursday, July 10-Monday, July 14 – Lord’s
- Fourth Test: Wednesday, July 23-Sunday, July 27 – Emirates Old Trafford
- Fifth Test: Thursday, July 31-Monday, August 4 – The Kia Oval
