England Playing XI for 2nd Test: The visitors have announced a 12-member squad which comprises of five new names.
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England have rested veteran pacer James Anderson and spinner Dom Bess for the imminent second Test match against India starting from tomorrow in Chennai.
Anderson, who registered match figures of 27.5-9-63-5 in the first Test, had bowled a game-changing spell of reverse swing bowling which saw him dismissing Shubman Gill and Ajinkya Rahane in the same over to dent the home team.
Bess, on the other hand, was the pick of the English bowlers in the first innings with figures of 26-5-76-4 as he dismissed the Indian middle-order batsmen. The changes haven’t come as a surprise as England coach Chris Silverwood had given enough hints regarding rotating his players.
In addition to Anderson and Bess, wicket-keeper batsman Jos Buttler and fast bowler Jofra Archer will also miss the second Test. While Buttler was only in the squad for the first Test, Archer was ruled out last night after having an injection in his right elbow.
England Playing XI for 2nd Test
In the general run of things, visiting teams don’t often make four changes to their Playing XI especially after winning the first Test comprehensively. Having said that, England’s ploy of managing their players whilst playing in bio-secure environments has led to the same.
As far as the incoming players are concerned, wicket-keeper batsman Ben Foakes, all-rounder Moeen Ali and fast bowlers Stuart Broad, Chris Woakes and Olly Stone have been included in the 12-man squad.
Broad could be effective in these conditions but India will be delighted they don’t have to play Anderson in this form. And I am assuming that Bess was short on confidence. Still, very hard on him.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) February 12, 2021
Provided England play the same combination like the previous Test, one out of Broad, Woakes and Stone will have to sit out tomorrow. However, the visitors also have a left-field option of playing three fast bowlers by including Moeen Ali in place of Dan Lawrence as the move will further strengthen their bowling attack.
Ali, whose last Test appearance dates back to Ashes 2019 at home, has batted at No. 3 in three matches against India in the past.
England 12-member squad for Chennai Test – Dom Sibley, Rory Burns, Dan Lawrence, Joe Root (c), Ben Stokes, Ollie Pope, Ben Foakes (wk), Moeen Ali, Jack Leach, Chris Woakes, Olly Stone, Stuart Broad.
