Will Chris Woakes Head England's Pace Attack in the First Test?

Leeds, June 18 (NationPress) England has revealed their squad for the first Test of the five-match series against India, with the well-known opening duo of Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett set to lead the batting lineup.

The inaugural Test is scheduled to commence on June 20 at Headingley, Leeds, as England aims for a strong start in familiar territory against a revamped Indian team.

The choice to continue with Crawley and Duckett is hardly surprising, as both players arrive at the series in exceptional form. They played a pivotal role in England’s recent victory over Zimbabwe in a four-day Test, forming a double-century opening partnership and scoring individual centuries.

Duckett, notably, has been on a roll, successfully translating his red-ball performance into the white-ball formats during England’s series against the West Indies.

Although Crawley’s performance can be unpredictable, he is recognized for turning initial opportunities into significant scores. The right-handed batsman will seek to maintain consistency against a strong Indian bowling lineup.

This opening pair will be complemented by a solid middle order that includes Ollie Pope, former captain Joe Root, Harry Brook, and current captain Ben Stokes. All eyes will be on Root, who is England’s most dependable Test batsman and has just come off a match-winning effort in the recent ODI series against West Indies.

Harry Brook, boasting an impressive Test record, will aim to assert his dominance on home turf.

With Ben Stokes returning to full fitness, he adds vital batting depth and balance to the team. Wicketkeeper Jamie Smith, who has impressed while partnering Duckett in white-ball cricket, will bat at No. 7 and take the gloves for the first Test. His inclusion, alongside all-rounder Chris Woakes at No. 8, ensures that England has depth in their batting lineup.

In the bowling department, while England will be without Jofra Archer and Mark Wood due to injuries, they have opted for a pace-dominated attack led by Woakes and Brydon Carse, who will share the new ball. Josh Tongue, who made a mark in previous series, will inject pace during the middle overs, while off-spinner Shoaib Bashir will serve as England's primary spin option.

With Stokes expected to contribute as the fifth bowler, England appears to have discovered the balance they were seeking as they head into this pivotal series.

England's XI for the first Test against India:

Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (c), Jamie Smith (wk), Chris Woakes, Brydon Carse, Shoaib Bashir, Josh Tongue.