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England captain Ben Stokes (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)
England have named their playing XI for the opening Test of the much-awaited five-match series against India, set to begin on Friday, June 20, at Headingley in Leeds. The series marks the inauguration of the newly minted Tendulkar-Anderson Trophy and kicks off the 2025–27 World Test Championship cycle for both sides.Veteran all-rounder Chris Woakes makes a return to the Test team for the first time since December, reinforcing England’s seam attack and lower-order batting. Also included is Durham pacer Brydon Carse, who will play his maiden home Test after previously featuring in five away fixtures in Pakistan and New Zealand.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!The biggest talking point, however, is the retention of Ollie Pope at No.3.
Despite mounting competition from 21-year-old Jacob Bethell, Pope has held onto his spot. Bethell had impressed on England’s New Zealand tour last winter and showed his talent again during the recent white-ball series against West Indies. However, he opted to play the IPL with Royal Challengers Bengaluru instead of the recent Zimbabwe Test, where Pope staked his claim with a commanding 171.
England XI for 1st Test vs India
- 1. Zak Crawley, 2. Ben Duckett, 3. Ollie Pope, 4. Joe Root, 5. Harry Brook, 6. Ben Stokes (capt), 7. Jamie Smith (WK), 8. Chris Woakes, 9. Brydon Carse, 10. Josh Tongue, 11. Shoaib Bashir
Still, Pope’s form against India and Australia remains a concern.
The vice-captain averages just 24.60 against India and a paltry 15.70 in Ashes Tests. Despite the stats, captain Ben Stokes backed Pope and dismissed suggestions of a bias toward Bethell, calling the speculation an “agenda.”
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England have made two changes to the team that defeated Zimbabwe at Trent Bridge. Woakes comes in for the injured Gus Atkinson, and Carse replaces Sam Cook. Wicketkeeper Jamie Smith retains his place, adding depth to the middle order.With Stokes leading a well-rounded side and multiple bowling options at his disposal, England will look to make a strong start.India, led by new skipper Shubman Gill, aim to end a 18-year wait for a series win on English soil. The youthful Indian squad knows the challenge is steep, but with both teams in transition, the Headingley Test promises to set the tone for an enthralling summer of cricket.
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