(Cricket news) England have announced their playing eleven for their third test against India, starting from the 15th of February. Mark Wood makes a return to the side as the Ben Stokes led side decides to go in with 2 pacers and 2 spinners at Rajkot.
Shoaib Bashir who made his debut in the previous game has been left out of the third test. Wood played as a lone seamer in England’s victory in the first Test at Hyderabad but was unable to scalp a wicket on a surface that did not offer him a lot of help. However, he has been recalled to partner James Anderson for the 3rd game.
He is the only change to the starting XI as England change their strategies of playing an all spin attack. Having gone into Wednesday with a 12-men squad, Stokes and head coach Brendon McCullum decided on the extra seamer in Wood after one last look at the pitch which potentially have some cracks that could assist the pacers.
The leg-spinner Rehan Ahmad’s participation in the game was unsure, post the visa issues after travelling back from the UAE, entering India with a single entry visa. However the paperworks were met well in time to allow the youngster to be a part the team for an important game in the context of the series.
England 11: 1. Zak Crawley, 2. Ben Duckett, 3. Ollie Pope, 4. Joe Root, 5. Jonny Bairstow, 6. Ben Stokes (captain), 7. Ben Foakes (wk), 8. Rehan Ahmed, 9. Tom Hartley, 10. Mark Wood, 11. James Anderson
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