India vs England 2024

England announce Playing XI for first Test match against India; Star bowler dropped

At Hyderabad’s Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, India will play England in the opening Test match of a five-match series on Thursday. India, who have dominated home Tests for more than a decade, will now face a battle unlike any other as the England team, led by Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum, looks to alter the traditional approach to Test matches by playing offensive cricket.

England team has announced their playing XI for the first Test against India with three spinners, while the veteran James Anderson missed out. Under Alastair Cook, England was the final team to defeat India in 2012. But that team was more dependent on following the rules and grinding out the wins. This one will charge the Indian side with all of his might and is more showy. Although The Men in Blue may not have encountered such a task previously, this group of players has a wealth of experience and impressive achievements on their resumes, and they are confident in their ability to meet any challenge posed by the England squad.

24 years old Lancashire left-arm spinner, Tom Hartley will make his debut in Hyderabad. Veteran fast-bowler James Anderson misses out on playing eleven for the first Test against India.

England have named three specialist spinners and one per-timer in their side

Debutant Hartley, who played two ODIs last year against Ireland, is set to share spin-bowling duties with the leader of the spin attack, left-arm spinner Jack Leach, young leg-spinner Rehan Ahmed and part-time off-spinner Joe Root. Tom Hartley has taken 40 wickets in 20 first-class cricket games for Lancashire at an average of 36.57. But The Three Lions believe that he will be able to do the same, what Axar Patel did for India in the 2021 series when India won 3-1 at home. Even England test captain Ben Stokes had even suggested opening the bowling with Joe Root in spin web conditions in India.

ECB released the official statement on Wednesday, they said: “The Three Lions have named four spinners in their side and one seamer…” That means Joe Root will be their fourth spinner for the match. The express pacer Mark Wood will be the lone pacer, which means there was no space for James Anderson in the eleven for the first Test, He is the most experienced member of the English side and also the highest wicket-taking pacer in Test cricket among all fast bowlers.

“If we do choose to go with just the one seamer, you can’t deny what Woody possesses as a package,” Stokes said before the first Test. “His express pace and he can get the ball reverse swinging as well, the skill that he has is obviously something that you want in your team.” That India series will be the biggest challenge for coach Brendon McCullum too. Will the ‘Bazball’ make any difference in Indian track? Only time will tell.

England Playing XI for the 1st Test:

Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Jonny Bairstow, Ben Stokes (captain), Ben Foakes (WK), Rehan Ahmed, Tom Hartley, Mark Wood, and Jack Leach.