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Jofra Archer Misses Out As England Stick With Unchanged XI For 2nd Test vs India
England Retain Same Squad Despite Expectations Around Archer
England have announced an unchanged playing XI for the upcoming second Test against India, set to begin on July 2 at Edgbaston. Fans hoping to see the return of pace sensation Jofra Archer will have to wait a bit longer, as the right-arm quick has been withdrawn from the squad due to a family emergency, according to reports.
Archer had recently shown positive signs of fitness, bowling 18 overs in a County Championship match for Sussex, raising hopes of a long-awaited return to red-ball cricket. However, with his sudden unavailability, Josh Tongue, who was expected to make way, has been given another opportunity to impress in the whites.
England’s Batting Unit Shines Ahead Of 2nd Test
Strong Performances With The Bat in Headingley
England head into the second Test on the back of a five-wicket victory at Headingley, where their batting line-up was firing on all cylinders.
Openers Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley laid a strong foundation, with the former notching up a century. Middle-order stalwarts Joe Root and Harry Brook also made significant contributions with fluent fifties.
While captain Ben Stokes missed out with the bat, England’s top and middle order looked solid overall. With Jamie Smith donning the gloves in the absence of Jonny Bairstow, the batting unit remains largely settled going into the Edgbaston encounter.
Bowling Remains an Area of Concern for England
Despite winning the first Test, England’s bowling attack came under scrutiny, especially in the first innings where they struggled to create breakthroughs.
Veteran pacer Chris Woakes, who traditionally excels in home conditions, managed just a single wicket. Meanwhile, young spinner Shoaib Bashir was expensive and lacked the control needed to contain the Indian batters.
Moeen Ali’s Influence Could Be Key
With Edgbaston expected to offer more spin, England will hope for an improved outing from Bashir. He is likely to benefit from the guidance of new bowling consultant Moeen Ali, who has joined the squad for the remainder of the series.
As the series stands at 1-0 in England’s favour, a win at Edgbaston would give the hosts a commanding lead and push them one step closer to sealing a high-profile home series.
England Playing XI for 2nd Test vs India
Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Jamie Smith (wk), Ben Stokes (c), Chris Woakes, Brydon Carse, Josh Tongue, Shoaib Bashir
