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England vs India Test Series: Ben Foakes got a call-up
Get ready for some exciting cricket action from India vs England! Wicketkeeper Ben Foakes is back in the team for their first big match against India in Hyderabad. He hasn’t played for England since February 2023, so it’s a big comeback!
Jonny Bairstow will be focusing on batting this time, as another player named Harry Brook had to return home for personal reasons.
The pitch in Hyderabad looks dry, which might mean England picks three spin bowlers to take advantage of it. But one of their spinners, Shoaib Bashir, had to fly back to England to sort out some visa issues, so their team might have two spinners instead.
Of course, they still have the fast bowling skills of James Anderson and Mark Wood, and captain Joe Root can even chip in with some spin bowling too!
So buckle up, cricket fans of all ages, because the England vs. India Test series is about to begin!
Who Will Spin Alongside Leach in India?
Left-armer Jack Leach is back after an injury and ready to spin! But who will team up with him? The England selectors have two choices: Rehan Ahmed, the young leg-spinner who impressed on his debut last year, and Tom Hartley, an uncapped lefty from Lancashire.
Right now, it seems like Hartley might get the nod. While he’s new to Test cricket, Hartley’s already bagged 40 wickets in his first-class matches and even played a couple of international one-day games for England. So, keep an eye out for Lancashire’s rising star!
“Tom is very tall,” Stokes explained. “He bowls at a velocity that is quite tough to handle out here.
He gets a lot of natural variance, which, in India, might be the most difficult thing to deal with when you have two of the same ball, ball after ball, and one turns square while the other skids on and picks up speed.“
Brook Departs, England Adjusts Squad for Tricky India Tour
Harry Brook had to leave the England team after their training camp in Abu Dhabi. Something important happened at home, and he needed to be there. He might rejoin the team later in the five-match series against India.
Even though Brook has been batting brilliantly, his absence makes things a bit easier for England in picking the team.
Ollie Pope, the vice-captain, is back at number three after getting over a dislocated shoulder. Ben Foakes will be keeping wicket again, for the first time since a trip to New Zealand last February.
Foakes weren’t picked during the summer games in England because Jonny Bairstow was wearing the gloves so the team could have more batters.
But in India, the pitches are tricky, and the keepers need to stand up for long periods, so Foakes’ amazing wicketkeeping skills (called the best in the world by Ben Stokes!) will be a big help.
He can not only do things that most keepers cannot, but he does them with ease,” Stokes remarked.
“He’s an exceptionally unique ability behind there, and having somebody like that who can perhaps take a 2%, 3% possibility, that could be enormous in the series.”
Stokes Ready to Bat for England, Bowling on Hold: Captain Root Might Take the New Ball!
Ben Stokes, a key player for England, is starting the West Indies series fresh after knee surgery in November. The 32-year-old had some minor repairs done, and while he’s ready to bat, bowling will have to wait until later in the year.
To make up for this, England may turn to their captain, Joe Root, who might even get to start the game with the ball! Stokes has also been working hard to lighten up to help his knee recover, and he hopes to play all five matches of the series.
In simpler terms, Stokes is back after a knee injury, but he won’t be bowling yet. England will rely on Root for both batting and maybe even bowling, and Stokes is feeling good about playing all the games.
“I’ve done everything away from it that a match requires,” Stokes stated. “I would never prioritize myself over the team if I didn’t believe I could perform at a particular level.
“I’d never be so selfish as to consider not performing at a certain level and the consequences for the team. I have completed all of the necessary steps to declare myself ready to play a Test match for England.
“I might have some long days in the field, but I’m ready.“
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