England has announced their playing XI for the highly anticipated third Test against India at Lord's, with Jofra Archer making a comeback after four years. The match is scheduled to begin on July 10. Archer replaces Josh Tongue in the only change to the team. This will be Archer's first Test appearance since February 2021.
The series is currently tied at 1-1, with England winning the first Test at Headingley and India bouncing back with a dominant 336-run victory at Edgbaston.
Archer's return is a significant boost for England, who are looking to refresh their pace attack. He has been building towards this return, bowling regularly during intervals at Edgbaston. His inclusion is expected to add firepower and depth to the bowling lineup.
England has reportedly requested a pitch with "plenty of life in it" to unleash Archer and potentially Gus Atkinson. Images circulating online show a green top at Lord's, suggesting a pitch that will favor the pacers.
However, Stuart Broad has cautioned against rushing Archer or Atkinson into the team without sufficient match fitness. He also highlighted the threat posed by India's bowling attack, especially with the return of Jasprit Bumrah.
Former England captain Mark Butcher speculated that India is unlikely to make many changes with Bumrah's return. Kumar Sangakkara suggested that Mohammed Siraj and Akash Deep would likely play, with Prasidh Krishna potentially making way for Bumrah.
The third Test at Lord's promises to be an exciting contest with both teams eager to gain the upper hand in the series. England will be hoping that Archer's return can provide the spark they need, while India will be looking to continue their momentum from the Edgbaston victory.
England's Playing XI:
