ENG vs IND 2025: England retain same XI, Jofra Archer left out for 2nd Test

After Jofra Archer impressive return to first-class cricket with Essex, he was included in the team. A family problem reportedly prevented the right-arm seamer from attending England’s training session on Monday, June 30.

The ECB announced an unchanged XI for the second Test in the high-stakes Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, which begins on Wednesday, July 1 at Edgbaston, Birmingham, meaning Jofra Archer will have to wait a little longer to return to England’s red-ball outfit.

By sticking with the same starting lineup, the Three Lions chose continuity and were able to take a 1-0 lead in the five-match series against India. After chasing down a difficult 371-run goal in the fourth innings, Ben Stokes and company overcame Shubman Gill’s team by five wickets at Headingley, Leeds.

Prior to the series, England’s bowling lineup—particularly the pace attack—was being scrutinised because Chris Woakes was recuperating from an injury and players like Josh Tongue, Sam Cook, and Brydon Carse lacked experience. Because Carse, Tongue, and Woakes were the three specialised seamers, the latter was unable to make it into the starting lineup.

Tongue finished with match stats of 7/158, making him the best bowler. Carse took three wickets in the second innings and one in the first. Woakes, meanwhile, was not playing at his best; after delivering 43 overs in two innings, he took just one wicket.

In the meanwhile, Ben Duckett will be the centre of attention in the batting department. With 62 runs in the first innings and 149 in the second, the opening batsman won Player of the Match in the first Test. Jamie Smith, Harry Brook, Zak Crawley, and Ollie Pope all contributed significant runs to England’s historic victory.

India would aim to make a big series comeback, but Shubman and company won’t have an easy time defeating a solid England team.

Ben Duckett, Zak Crawley, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (C), Jamie Smith (WK), Chris Woakes, Brydon Carse, Josh Tongue, and Shoaib Bashir are the England starting lineup for the second Test match at Edgbaston.