Stuart Broad replacement: Saqib Mahmood added to England Test squad to provide cover for Lord’s Test

Saqib Mahmood: The English fast bowler has been added to their Test squad for the second Test between England and India.

England pacer Saqib Mahmood has become the second player to be added to the Test squad for the second Test between England and India at Lord’s.

Scheduled to begin from tomorrow at the historic venue, Mahmood has joined all-rounder Moeen Ali in getting a call-up to the Test squad. While Ali’s last first-class match was a Test between England and India in Chennai six months ago, Mahmood’s last red-ball match was a County Championship match between Lancashire and Glamorgan in Cardiff a couple of months ago.

In the absence of first-choice names for the ODI series against Pakistan last month, Mahmood had emerged as the highest wicket-taker picking nine wickets in three ODIs at an average of 13.66, an economy rate of 4.39 and a strike rate of 18.6.

Saqib Mahmood added to England Test squad to provide cover for Lord’s Test

Mahmood’s inclusion to the Test squad further throws light on veteran pacer Stuart Broad’s minimal chances of playing the second Test due to an ankle injury.

Mahmood, who has played 16 white-ball matches for England in the last two years but is uncapped at the Test level, might not be handed a Test debut on Thursday as England already have Mark Wood and Craig Overton in the squad.

Mahmood will be joining the Test squad on the back of representing Oval Invincibles in The Hundred 2021. In 22 first-class matches in his career, Mahmood has dismissed 65 batsmen at an average and strike rate of 26.30 and 49.50 respectively.

In another update, England have released spinner Dom Bess from the Test squad to let him join Yorkshire their Royal London One-Day Cup match against Glamorgan tomorrow at Sophia Gardens.

England squad for 2nd Test against India at Lord’s – Joe Root (c), Moeen Ali, James Anderson, Jonny Bairstow, Stuart Broad, Rory Burns, Jos Buttler (wk), Zac Crawley, Sam Curran, Haseeb Hameed, Dan Lawrence, Jack Leach, Saqib Mahmood, Craig Overton, Ollie Pope, Ollie Robinson, Dom Sibley, Mark Wood.