The National Selectors have today named the squad for England’s opening two test matches against India, which gets underway next month.
Ben Stokes has been named in the 16 man-strong squad having been rested for the Sri Lanka series.
Mark Wood will miss the first and second Tests as The National Selectors have provided a block of rest for him, Jonathan Bairstow and Sam Curran.
This is consistent with the selection policy of finding a block of rest for all multi-format players at some point during post-Christmas winter schedule.
Alongside the 16-man squad, six travelling reserves have been named ahead of the series starting on Friday 5th February at MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai.
With Archer and Stokes returning, and subject to fitness of the rest of the squad, Somerset’s Craig Overton will return home after the Sri Lanka series.
England Men’s Test Squad:
Joe Root (Yorkshire) (captain), Jofra Archer (Sussex), Moeen Ali (Worcestershire), James Anderson (Lancashire), Dom Bess (Yorkshire), Stuart Broad (Nottinghamshire), Rory Burns (Surrey), Jos Buttler (Lancashire), Zak Crawley (Kent), Ben Foakes (Surrey), Dan Lawrence (Essex), Jack Leach (Somerset), Dom Sibley (Warwickshire), Ben Stokes (Durham), Olly Stone (Warwickshire), Chris Woakes (Warwickshire).
Reserves:
James Bracey (Gloucestershire), Mason Crane (Hampshire), Saqib Mahmood (Lancashire), Matthew Parkinson (Lancashire), Ollie Robinson (Sussex), Amar Virdi (Surrey).
England Tour of India Schedule
Friday 5-9 February: 1st Test – India v England, MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai
Saturday 13-17 February: 2nd Test – India v England, MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai
Wednesday 24-28 February: 3rd Test – India v England, Sardar Patel Stadium, Ahmedabad
Thursday 4-8 March: 4th Test – India v England, Sardar Patel Stadium, Ahmedabad