After an extensive period of focusing on limited-overs cricket, the Indian team is now turning its attention back to the purest form of the game. England is set to tour India for a five-match Test series. The first match is scheduled at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad on January 25. With England playing their fearless and aggressive brand of ‘Bazball’ cricket it will be interesting to see how they implement it on spinning Indian tracks.
However, in a surprising turn of events the visitors have surprised everyone as they have announced their playing XI. They announced it one day before the commencement of the first Test. Interestingly, England included three specialist spinners in their playing XI for the opening Test of the five-match series against India, scheduled to start on Thursday in Hyderabad. Mark Wood stands as the solitary pacer, with Jack Leach, Tom Hartley, and Rehan Ahmed forming the spin department.
The left-arm spinner, Tom Hartley is set to make his Test debut at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium. Joe Root doubles as a useful off-spinner, and there is uncertainty regarding whether skipper Ben Stokes will assume bowling duties during the Test series. Notably, veteran pacer James Anderson will not feature in the starting lineup for his sixth tour of India.
England Playing XI: Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Jonny Bairstow, Ben Stokes (Captain), Ben Foakes (wicketkeeper), Rehan Ahmed, Mark Wood, Tom Hartley, Jack Leach
Shoaib Bashir to miss first India Test due to visa complications
England’s cricket team faced a setback with the exclusion of talented spinner Shoaib Bashir from the first Test against India due to unexpected visa complications. Bashir, with Pakistani heritage, encountered delays in his visa application, leading to his inability to join the squad in Hyderabad on time. Consequently, he had to return home from the Abu Dhabi training camp, delaying his anticipated Test debut. As the series opener in Hyderabad approaches, the English camp anxiously awaits a resolution to the visa issues.
The optimism of the England and Wales Cricket Board for a resolution with the India Cricket Board regarding Shoaib Bashir’s visa predicament has waned. Reports from the British media in India suggest that Bashir was directed to return to London to obtain the correct paperwork from the Indian High Commission. The England camp had initially hoped for assistance from their Indian counterparts in resolving the visa issue.
Let us look at how Twitter has reacted to this news;
3 proper spinners with Joe Root as fourth option and only one proper fast bowler Mark wood ??
— Kirkett (@bhaskar_sanu08) January 24, 2024
Seems like very strong tream . It will be exciting series more than even ashes
— Salman Mirza (@SalmanMrza) January 24, 2024
No Anderson ?
— Aafaq Ahmad ???? (@Aafaqahmad56) January 24, 2024
Why releasing today?
— Shimva (@BoronKohli) January 24, 2024
Ye confidence hai ya over confidence
— Shubham Shrivastav (@shubhshr28) January 24, 2024
No anderson?
— Shimva (@BoronKohli) January 24, 2024
Gonna miss virat kohli
— Magry Zakir (@zakir_magry) January 24, 2024
Only one seamer ?
— Temba Bashira (@tembu_699) January 24, 2024
Let's see what they can do
— Karthik (@vsk_says) January 24, 2024
