The 27-year-old is joined in the 17-player squad by Ben Stokes, who sat out the two-match series against New Zealand in June.
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Seamer Ollie Robinson has been recalled to England’s Test squad for the opening two matches of the five-game series against India. However, Jofra Archer and Chris Woakes are sidelined due to injury. Robinson was handed a fine and an eight-match ban with five of them suspended for two years, for “a number of offensive tweets” sent between 2012 and 2014. However, he was given permission to return to international duty earlier this month.
Ben Stokes is another player who is making a comeback to the 17-player squad, having been sidelined during the two-match Test series against New Zealand in June. Stokes was recovering from a fractured finger sustained in the recently suspended edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL). The all-rounder returned to international cricket ahead of schedule, to captain England to a 3-0 win in the ODI series against Pakistan earlier this month. Stokes had to step in after Eoin Morgan and the entire squad initially selected for the series, was forced to self-isolate after a COVID-19 outbreak in the first XI squad.
The all-rounder’s presence will certainly be a boost to 27-year-old Robinson who has battled a lot of criticism in recent times. Jos Buttler, Jonny Bairstow and Sam Curran further make a comeback into the Test squad. However, Archer (right elbow) and Woakes (bruised heel) are both unavailable. The former continues to progress following an elbow surgery. However, he is not ready at this point to return to Test cricket. Woakes suffered a bruised heel last week. He is undergoing a rehabilitation programme aimed to allow him to be fit and available later in the series.
“A home Test series against India is one of the most anticipated red-ball series and this promises to be an outstanding five Tests. India are a quality team who have shown their ability to get results away from home. We are expecting a highly competitive series and have selected our strongest possible squad. The returns of all-rounders Ben Stokes and Sam Curran provide balance that allows us to get back to a structure that has been successful in Test cricket,” said England head coach Chris Silverwood as quoted by Sky Sports.
“Ben’s leadership in the Royal London Series, when he played despite his finger not yet being 100 per cent, typified his character and commitment that drives the players around him forward. With Jos and Jonny back in the squad we have added further experience and quality that will be needed against the world’s second-ranked team. We have selected Ollie Robinson after his seven-wicket Test debut against New Zealand. Ollie proved in that Test that he has the ability to replicate his outstanding form in the County Championship at international level and we will continue to work with him to develop his England career,” he added.
England Men’s Test Squad: Joe Root (captain), James Anderson, Jonny Bairstow, Dom Bess, Stuart Broad, Rory Burns, Jos Buttler, Zak Crawley, Sam Curran, Haseeb Hameed, Dan Lawrence, Jack Leach, Ollie Pope, Ollie Robinson, Dom Sibley, Ben Stokes, Mark Wood.
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