Ben Stokes to Lead 16-Member Squad, but Won’t Bowl
England test captain Ben Stokes is expected to be fit for the start of the five-test tour of India, despite undergoing left knee surgery less than two weeks ago. Stokes will lead a 16-man squad selected by England director of cricket Rob Key, but he will not be able to bowl in the series.
Key explained that the plan was always for Stokes to focus solely on batting after the surgery, as his bowling had already been limited in recent years. He acknowledged the impact this will have on the team’s balance, but said they have a plan in place to compensate for Stokes’ absence as an allrounder.
“With Ben, it’s never been simple. It’s never been the case of, ‘Just put him into surgery and everything will be all right and in six weeks he’ll be coming back,’ Key said.
“It does make it trickier but as long as you know it, you can come up with a plan.”
Uncapped Players Get the Call
With Stokes unable to bowl, England have selected four seamers and four spinners for the series. Uncapped fast bowler Gus Atkinson and uncapped spinners Tom Hartley and Shoaib Bashir have all been called up, while Jack Leach returns to the squad after recovering from a stress fracture of the back.
The selection of Bashir, who has only played six first-class matches, is an indication of England’s willingness to invest in young talent. Key said that Bashir has a high ceiling and that he hopes to see him develop into a world-class spinner in the future.
Key highlighted Bashir’s potential, praising his high release point and classical off-spin bowling style. He compared Bashir to the young Rehan Ahmed, who was also selected for a tour of Pakistan last year based on his promise.
With Stokes unable to bowl, the pace attack will be led by veteran Jimmy Anderson and supported by Ollie Robinson, Mark Wood, and uncapped player Gus Atkinson. Chris Woakes, one of England’s best fast bowlers, was surprisingly left out of the squad.
READ MORE: Broad’s Dream Ending, Moeen’s Comeback, Ashes 2023 Ends 2-2
The series will be England’s first test since the retirement of Stuart Broad, and they will face a tough challenge against a strong Indian team in their own backyard.
The England team will have a training week in the United Arab Emirates before the first test, which starts in Hyderabad on January 25th.
Key Dates for England tour of India
January 25-29: 1st Test, Hyderabad
February 2-6: 2nd Test, Vizag
February 15-19: 3rd Test, Rajkot
February 23-27: 4th Test, Ranchi
March 2-6: 5th Test, Dharamsala
