Joe Root’s Side Rotated Their Frontline Fast Bowlers During The 2-1 Series Win:
England will again face a selection dilemma over making up their pace attack after an unchanged 14-man squad was announced Wednesday for the first Test against Pakistan next week. Joe Root ‘s side rotated their fast bowlers on the frontline during the 2-1 series victory over the West Indians, which ended on Tuesday with heavy competition for positions. In the last two tests, Stuart Broad replied to being left out of the opener with 16 wickets under 11, while in the West Indies second innings, Chris Woakes finished the series with five wickets.
James Anderson is England ‘s leading wicket-taker, Jofra Archer and Mark Wood’s raw pace has turned matches in favor of England in the past, while Sam Curran has won every Test he ‘s played in at home.
Wood and Curran were the unlucky seamers left out of the Old Trafford decision-maker, but next Wednesday they were kept in the squad to face Pakistan on the same ground. Top-order batsmen James Bracey and Dan Lawrence, wicketkeeper Ben Foakes and slow left-armer Jack Leach will stay on as reserves for the party.
“After three fast succession tests against the West Indies, we are now turning to an equally condensed test series against Pakistan, with 15 days of Test cricket scheduled for three weeks,” national selector Ed Smith said.
“Our 14-man squad is unchanged. County cricket is now resuming on Saturday, August 1st. We want to have enough reserves inside the ‘bubble’ bio-secure test match, but we may also want to allow the reserves the chance to play county cricket whenever possible.
“While we’re looking for the best balance here, England will make reserve adjustments over the three-match series against Pakistan.” The second test starts on August 13 at the Ageas Bowl in Southampton, with the third match starting on August 21 at the same venue. Tests are being carried out behind closed doors because of the coronavirus pandemic.
