No place for Stokes as England stay unchanged

England have left Ben Stokes out of an unchanged 13-man squad for this week’s third Specsavers Test against India at Trent Bridge.

The England and Wales Cricket Board confirmed, less than 24 hours after the team’s innings-and159-run victory at Lord’s, that the selectors have stuck with a winning lineup.

Stokes, pictured, had to miss the second Test because of a clash with his ongoing affray case at Bristol Crown Court.

An outcome to those proceedings is anticipated before England arrive in Nottingham on Thursday, for a match which starts two days later – with the hosts leading the five-match series 2-0.

After Chris Woakes put in a man-ofthe-match performance on his return from injury as Stokes’ replacement at Lord’s, it was widely-anticipated that the same 13 players would be retained.

A brief ECB statement yesterday read: “England national cricket selectors have named an unchanged 13-man squad for the third Specsavers Test match against India at Trent Bridge, starting on Saturday August 18.

“The ECB will make an assessment of Ben Stokes’ availability after the trial in Bristol has concluded.” England squad for third Specsavers Test against India at Trent Bridge: JE Root (Captain), AN Cook, KK Jennings, OJD Pope, JM Bairstow (wkt), JC Buttler, CR Woakes, SM Curran, AU Rashid, SCJ Broad, JM Anderson, MM Ali, JA Porter.