England has revealed their playing lineup for the upcoming third Test against India. The match will take place at the Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Rajkot starting Thursday, February 15.
Leading up to the third Test in the ongoing five-match series between India and England, the team led by Ben Stokes revealed their lineup for the upcoming match. The third Test is scheduled to take place at the Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Rajkot starting from February 15.
In a noteworthy moment, Ben Stokes is poised to celebrate his 100th Test appearance for England. The team’s announcement included a solitary change, including renowned pacer Mark Wood in place of Shoaib Bashir.
For the first time in this series, England has included two pacers. Mark Wood made his appearance in the first test at Hyderabad, while James Anderson joined the lineup for the second test which was held at Vizag.
The spin department will be handled by Rehan Ahmed and Tom Hartley, as genuine spinners in the team, with Joe Root also chipping in with spin duties for England. It’s a special occasion for Ben Stokes as he gears up for his 100th Test match, hoping to deliver a stellar performance against India.
Mark Wood had a quiet outing in the first test at Hyderabad, while Tom Hartley’s exceptional bowling, claiming 7 wickets, played a pivotal role in England’s thrilling 28-run victory over India. James Anderson showcased excellent control in the second Test at Vizag, taking 3 wickets in the first innings and 2 in the second, despite the pitch favoring batsmen.
For the second Test in Vizag, England opted for Hartley, Rehan Ahmed, and Shoaib Bashir. It marks the first instance of England deploying two pacers. The Rajkot pitch is expected to offer a fair contest between bat and ball. England aims to seize the lead once more, intending to apply pressure on the Indian bowlers with their aggressive approach.
After securing a 28-run victory in the opening Test in Hyderabad, the visiting team faced a harsh reality check in Vizag as India, led by Yashasvi Jaiswal’s double century and Jasprit Bumrah’s brilliant bowling, clinched a 106-run win. Now, as the series stands level at 1-1, India heads to Rajkot with the aim of achieving consecutive victories.
England playing XI for the 3rd Test vs India:
Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Jonny Bairstow, Ben Stokes (C), Ben Foakes, Rehan Ahmed, Tom Hartley, Mark Wood, James Anderson
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