(Cricket News) India and England will play their first Test match of the five-match series at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad on January 25. England has released their starting eleven for the first match of the series, which includes three spinners and one seamer (Tom Hartley of Lancashire, who will be playing his first Test match).
Ollie Pope, Ben Foakes, Rehan Ahmed, Jack Leach, and other players who were not present in England’s previous Test match against Australia at The Oval in the summer are included in the side.
Left-arm spinner Hartley is set to make his Test debut, bringing an exciting new element to England’s bowling arsenal. The fact that veteran fast-bowler James Anderson is not included in the playing eleven has drawn criticism, underscoring England’s audacious move to dominate spin in subcontinental conditions.
England’s lineup, which includes leg-spinner Rehan Ahmed, left-arm spinner Jack Leach, and part-time off-spinner Joe Root, is a powerful quartet of spinners that shows their intent to take advantage of the spin-friendly pitches in India.
The selection of Hartley, who has shown promise in first-class cricket for Lancashire, suggests that England believes he can have a similar impact to Axar Patel’s role for India in the 2021 series.
England’s Playing XI for first Test:
Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Jonny Bairstow, Ben Stokes (C), Ben Foakes (WK), Rehan Ahmed, Tom Hartley, Mark Wood, and Jack Leach.
