No place for Bethell in Headingley, Woakes returns

Due to the retirements of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, all the talk has been around how India’s team would shape. Therefore, many are ignoring how England would shape up. The hosts have plenty of issues of their own. Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Mark Wood, and Olly Stone are all injured. The first two might play later in the India vs England Test series but the latter two are out.

No place for Cook & Overton

Due to these injury troubles, England named a 14-member squad but only for the first Test. Their bowling is inexperienced as well. Although Chris Woakes has 57 matches under his belt, all the other 5 bowlers have played 26 matches combined. This is an issue.

Woakes would be the main bowler. He’s definitely the best active pacer England has and averages 30 with the bat at home. Now given the pitch in Headingley might become better for batters as the match goes on, England will play fast bowlers who have more pace, can hit the deck, and inject more pace.

Sam Cook is too similar to Woakes and playing him when the surface may not do much after a while doesn’t seem like the right tactic. As for Jamie Overton, he’s of the same mould as Josh Tongue. The latter played against Zimbabwe and India A. He’s ahead in the pecking order and did well in the County Championship as well.

Brydon Carse might be the most important fast bowler. He’s got the pace, hits the deck, and, unlike Tongue, is accurate as well. He’s coming from a toe injury but if at his best, he can penetrate through the opposition’s batting order. Shoaib Bashir is the lone spinner; he picks himself. Ben Stokes, England’s captain, will be the fifth bowler and Joe Root can chip in as well.

Jacob Bethell to warm the bench

England have selected 7 proper batters. One of them has to sit out. And it’ll be Jacob Bethell. The 21-year-old might have played but due to his stint with the Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Bethell missed the Zimbabwe Test. In that game, both Zak Crawley and Ollie Pope scored hundreds. Both of these players’ positions in the team were under threat.

But since Bethell wasn’t there, he couldn’t contend for a spot. Pope was under threat the most. But he’s their vice-captain and having just scored 171 against Zimbabwe, there is no way he can be dropped. The spot of other batters was never in question. For now, Bethell will have to warm the bench.

Predicted England Playing XI for 1st India Test

Batters: Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Jamie Smith (wk)

All-rounders: Ben Stokes (c), Chris Woakes

Bowlers: Josh Tongue, Brydon Carse, Shoaib Bashir

Bench: Jacob Bethell, Sam Cook, Jamie Overton