England's preparations for the highly anticipated first Test against India have been dealt a blow with the news that fast bowler Gus Atkinson is ruled out due to a hamstring injury. The first Test is scheduled to begin on June 20, 2025, at Headingley in Leeds. In Atkinson's place, Jamie Overton makes a return to the squad.
Atkinson's injury occurred during the one-off Test against Zimbabwe last month. The right hamstring strain also forced him to miss the recently concluded ODI series against the West Indies. This is a significant setback for England, as Atkinson has quickly become a vital member of their bowling attack, taking three five-wicket hauls in his 12 Test matches.
Jamie Overton, the Surrey all-rounder, is back in the Test squad for the first time since June 2022, when he played against New Zealand at Headingley. Overton's return provides a boost to England's seam-bowling options, although he is also under medical review due to a broken right little finger sustained during the ODI series against the West Indies.
The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has also recalled Durham seamer Brydon Carse and the Warwickshire pair Jacob Bethell and Chris Woakes to the 14-member squad. Carse missed the Zimbabwe Test to recover from a toe injury he picked up during the Champions Trophy in February, while Woakes has been recovering from a long-term ankle injury.
Adding to England's injury concerns, Mark Wood and Olly Stone are unavailable for the series due to knee problems. Jofra Archer is also unlikely to feature in the first Test as he recovers from a thumb injury.
The England squad for the first Test against India is as follows: Ben Stokes (Durham) – Captain, Shoaib Bashir (Somerset), Jacob Bethell (Warwickshire), Harry Brook (Yorkshire), Brydon Carse (Durham), Sam Cook (Essex), Zak Crawley (Kent), Ben Duckett (Nottinghamshire), Jamie Overton (Surrey), Ollie Pope (Surrey), Joe Root (Yorkshire), Jamie Smith (Surrey), Josh Tongue (Nottinghamshire), Chris Woakes (Warwickshire).
India will be touring England for a five-match Test series as part of the 2025-27 World Test Championship cycle. Shubman Gill will captain the Indian side. The series presents a significant challenge for India, who are aiming for their first Test series win in England since 2007.
The schedule for the Test series is:
