Test for new-look England
ENGLAND will be without Ben Stokes while India could make changes too for the second Test at Lord’s today.
Stokes played a starring role in England’s 31-run win in the first Test of a five-match series at Edgbaston last week, including taking the wicket of India captain Virat Kohli, who had been anchoring the tourists’ run-chase.
But Stokes was omitted by England because he is in court this week on a criminal charge of affray.
Fellow pace-bowling all-rounder Chris Woakes has been called up in his place to the England squad, with uncapped Surrey batsman Ollie Pope selected instead of Dawid Malan, dropped after a run of low scores.
But in a dry English summer that has seen pitches more receptive to slow bowling than usual, England could recall off-spinner Moeen Ali, an accomplished batsman, to partner leg-break bowler Adil Rashid even though England captain Joe Root bowls occasional offbreaks.
India too could make a top-order change with the experienced Cheteshwar Pujara waiting in the wings if struggling opener Shikhar Dhawan is omitted.
They also have the option of playing a second-spinner, be it orthodox left-armer Ravindra Jadeja or left-arm wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav, with all-rounder Hardik Pandya the man most likely to miss out if either slow bowler is selected.
“It’s a good choice, a tough one too,” Bharat Arun, India’s bowling coach, told reporters at Lord’s yesterday.
“We really need to look at any change in strategy, depending on the wicket.”
As for India needing more runs from their batsmen, Arun said: “If you look at the (Edgbaston) scores, it’s only Virat Kohli and Joe Root who have been able to contend with the moving ball.
“The conditions were trying. The challenge is there for us to adapt even better and we have our plans in place.” – AFP