England has announced an unchanged team for the second Test against India, which begins on Wednesday, July 2nd, at Edgbaston in Birmingham. The decision comes after England's impressive victory in the first Test at Headingley, where they chased down a target of 371 runs.
The unchanged XI reflects England's desire to maintain the winning momentum and reward the players who performed well in the first Test. The batting lineup will consist of Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, and captain Ben Stokes. Jamie Smith will continue as the wicketkeeper. The bowling attack will be spearheaded by Chris Woakes, Brydon Carse, Josh Tongue, and Shoaib Bashir.
Despite earlier speculation, Jofra Archer will not be included in the playing XI for the second Test. Archer, who has been absent from Test cricket since February 2021 due to an elbow injury, was added to the squad last week. However, he missed Monday's training session due to a family emergency. While he is expected to rejoin the squad, the team management has opted to stick with the winning combination.
England's decision to retain the same XI highlights the team's confidence in their current setup. In the first Test, England demonstrated resilience and determination, especially after conceding a significant first-innings lead. Their strong batting performance in the second innings, led by Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett's opening partnership, paved the way for a memorable victory.
India, on the other hand, will be looking to bounce back after the defeat in the first Test. They may consider changes to their playing XI to regain momentum in the series. The gap between the first and second Test has provided both teams with an opportunity to reassess their strategies and prepare for the upcoming match. The second Test is part of a five-match series for the Pataudi Trophy. The series includes matches at Headingley, Edgbaston, Lord's, Old Trafford, and The Oval.
England's Playing XI for the second Test: Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (c), Jamie Smith (wk), Chris Woakes, Brydon Carse, Josh Tongue, Shoaib Bashir.
