In preparation for the 2nd Test against India in Vishakhapatnam on February 2, the England men’s cricket team has made significant changes to its playing XI. Shoaib Bashir, who will make his Test debut, is stepping in for the injured Jack Leach, who sustained a knee injury during the 1st Test in Hyderabad.
Leach’s knee injury, incurred while fielding, limited his contributions in both innings, managing to secure just one wicket against Shreyas Iyer. The Somerset spinner also opted out of Wednesday’s training session, prompting the team to bring in newcomer Shoaib Bashir.
In another alteration, James Anderson has been selected to replace Mark Wood in the playing XI. Wood, who served as the sole seamer in Hyderabad, remained wicketless across both innings, concluding with figures of 25-2-62-0.
England playing XI:
The confirmed England playing XI for the 2nd Test includes Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Jonny Bairstow, Ben Stokes (c), Ben Foakes (wk), Rehan Ahmed, Tom Hartley, debutant Shoaib Bashir, and James Anderson.
Expressing excitement about Bashir’s debut, England skipper and all-rounder Ben Stokes revealed that he first noticed the 20-year-old through Twitter clips. Stokes, along with teammates Keysy and Baz, acknowledged Bashir’s potential, leading to his inclusion in the India tour.
Shoaib Bashir, an off-spinner with Pakistani origins, faced a visa delay but joined the squad during the opening match in Hyderabad. As India deals with injury concerns, the Vishakhapatnam Test lineup remains uncertain. Stay tuned for more updates on this pivotal clash in the England tour of India 2024.
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