The England and Wales Cricket Boar (ECB) on Wednesday named their playing XI for the first Test of a five-match series against India.
The Ben Stokes-led eleven comprises three spinners including debutant Tom Hartley along with Jack Leach and Rehan Ahmed.
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Mark Wood is the lone specialist pacer who will have Stokes for company.
England XI for 1st Test: 1. Zak Crawley, 2. Ben Duckett, 3. Ollie Pope, 4. Joe Root, 5. Jonny Bairstow, 6. Ben Stokes (captain), 7. Ben Foakes, 8. Rehan Ahmed, 9. Tom Hartley, 10. Mark Wood, 11. Jack Leach
England have travelled with the vastly experienced pacer James Anderson but he hasn’t been considered for the opening Test which is expected to be played on a pitch conducive for spin bowling something which the tourists have already been anticipating.
Stokes is hoping that England can weaponize Wood’s ability to consistently bowl in the 90mphs.
“When you go with one seamer, you are looking for impact. Woody with his pace is an impact bowler, his reverse swing at 90 miles will be a weapon we can use,” Stokes told media on the match eve in Hyderabad.
Crawly and Ben Duckett will open for England with Pope slotting in at no.3 followed by Root who will be the key batter for them.
England have named both Jonny Bairstow and Ben Foakes in the eleven with the latter to take the gloves too.
England’s spin attack is thin on experience with only Leach, a left-arm spinner, carrying some experience having played 35 Tests and taken 124 wickets in them at 34.18.
Rehan, a 19-year-old legspinner, has played just one Test but he did give a good account of his skills by taking seven wickets in it.
On the other hand, the 24-year-old Hartley is uncapped in Tests but has represented England in one ODI last year against Ireland. In 20 first-class matches, he has 40 wickets at 36.57 including a five-wicket haul.
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