2024-02-15 00:53:48
After winning the Hyderabad Test against India, England lost the Visakhapatnam Test. The third Test of the series will start from Thursday (February 15) in Rajkot. Before that, England announced a change in the Rajkot Test XI on Wednesday.
Spinner Shoaib Bashir, who made his debut in the previous Test, has been dropped from the XI. 34-year-old pacer Mark Wood came in his place. Veteran pacer James Anderson is there as usual. England is going to play with two pacers for the first time in the current series.
Wood played as the only pacer in the first Test. Then he was dropped in the second test. Anderson was the only pacer then. Wood joined him this time.
However, England has assumed that the pacers will get an advantage in the Rajkot Test. However, the English are thinking from the experience of playing in 2016. Wood holds the record for best bowling on flat wickets. Especially in subcontinent conditions.
Anderson is standing in front of a milestone in this test. He will touch the milestone of 700 wickets in just 5 more wickets. On the other hand, the captain Ben Stokes will touch the milestone of 100th Test match if he takes the field in this Test.
Rehan Ahmed and Tom Hartley are in the team as specialist spinners. Rehan, who was stopped at the airport, took 8 wickets in two Tests. Average 36.37.
England XI:
Jack Crowley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Jonny Bairstow, Ben Stokes (captain), Ben Fox, Rehan Ahmed, Tom Hartley, Mark Wood and James Anderson.