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In a strategic shift, left-arm spinner Tom Hartley is poised to make his Test debut, while seasoned fast-bowler James Anderson finds himself excluded from England’s playing eleven for the series opener against India at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium on Thursday.
The English side boasts four spinners, featuring debutant Hartley, who played two ODIs last year. Hartley will share spin-bowling responsibilities with left-arm spinner Jack Leach, leg-spinner Rehan Ahmed, and part-time off-spinner Joe Root.
With 40 wickets in 20 first-class games for Lancashire at an average of 36.57, Hartley has been selected with the hope of replicating the impact Axar Patel had for India in the 2021 series. Captain Ben Stokes even hinted at the possibility of Root opening the bowling in spin-friendly Indian conditions.
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The only fast-bowling option for England is the express pacer Mark Wood. Ahmed and Leach, alongside top-order batsman Ollie Pope and wicketkeeper-batsman Ben Foakes, make their way into the side, having not been part of England’s last Test against Australia at The Oval last year.
Foakes returns to the side for his first Test since the New Zealand tour last February. Jonny Bairstow, replacing Harry Brook who withdrew from the tour for personal reasons over the weekend, will be the specialist batter at number five.
England last clinched a Test series victory in India 12 years ago, led by captain Alastair Cook, with spinners Graeme Swann and Monty Panesar playing pivotal roles in the 2-1 triumph. Despite winning the opening Test in Chennai during the 2021 tour, England lost the next three games, conceding the series 3-1 to India.
India remains unbeaten in 16 consecutive home Test series since their 2012 loss to England. On the other hand, England, under the leadership of Captain Stokes and head coach Brendon McCullum, is yet to face defeat in a Test series.
–IANS
