On Thursday, January 25, at Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad, England will play the first Test of a five-match series against India. They are expected to field a spin trio with Mark Wood as the lone fast bowler. The first Test pitch is predicted to be a rank-turner, and England is considering fielding a spin-dominant assault in the opening match of the series.
Thus, should England proceed with the aforementioned plan, left-arm spinner Tom Hartley will receive his first cap and team up with Rehan Ahmed and Jack Leach in a three-pronged spin attack. Ahmed only participated in one Test match thus far, having been dismissed in his first match against Pakistan in Karachi in December 2022. Conversely, Leach will be returning to action following a nearly eight-month absence from the Ashes 2023 due to a stress fracture in his back.
Notably, it would be the 32-year-old’s second tour to India. He concluded the 2021 series as his team’s top wicket-taker with 18 scalps from seven innings at an average of 28.72. The Three Lions have a history of using a spin-heavy bowling assault; in the fourth Test of their previous tour (2021) in Ahmedabad, they included James Anderson as the only seamer in the playing XI.
In 2023, Australia prevailed in the third Test using three spinners.
Nevertheless, Ben Stokes, who will not bowl in this series due to knee surgery following the ODI World Cup 2023, provided Anderson with help during that match. Australia also used three spinners in the third and fourth Test matches in the series in India earlier in 2023, which led to a victory in the third match.
Therefore, England’s tactic may benefit them as they get ready to break India’s 11-year home Test match winning streak. Notably, England has won every series they have played in under Ben Stokes’ direction, which heightens anticipation for the next series even more.
The England team for the upcoming Test series with India
Ben Duckett, Ben Foakes, Tom Hartley, Jack Leach, Ollie Pope, Ollie Robinson, Joe Root, Mark Wood, Gus Atkinson, Jonny Bairstow, Shoaib Bashir, Dan Lawrence, Zak Crawley, Ben Stokes, Rehan Ahmed, James Anderson, and Ollie Robinson
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