Predicting England’s Playing XI for first Test against India

Predicting England’s Playing XI for the first Test against India. The ‘Bazball’ will be facing the biggest challenge in a few days. The English team under the stewardship of Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum will be playing a 5-match Test series against India starting this month in Hyderabad. In this article, we will take a look at the probable starting XI for England in the first Test match. 

Top Order

Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett will be opening the innings for England. A lot of discussion has been around the aggressive intent that these openers displayed in the Ashes last year. However, it won’t be easy for the openers to replicate the performance as the Indian conditions will pose a different set of obstacles. 

Harry Brook is expected to play at No.3 as he has played in this position in the past. Brook has made an exceptional start to his Test career and the prior experience of playing in India can come in handy for him. 

Middle Order

There will be two crucial pillars for England in the batting, Joe Root and Ben Stokes. These two are the most experienced figures in the English batting order and they will have a huge responsibility to lead a young team that is embracing a new philosophy. Along with them in the middle order will be the wicketkeeper, Ben Foakes. He has been called up predominantly because of his wicketkeeping skills as the pitches in India will demand a full-time wicketkeeper. 

Bowling Unit

It is a rejuvenated English bowling unit, especially the spin department, that is coming to India. England has given opportunities to some fresh faces in the spin department. The young leg-spinner, Rehan Ahmad is likely to start as he has bowled in the subcontinent before and registered substantial success as well. There is another surprise factor in the English squad that can trouble the Indian team. The 20-year-old Somerset off-spinner Shoaib Bashir has earned his maiden call-up and he can feature in the playing XI along with the experienced Jack Leach. 

The evergreen James Anderson will not have his partner Stuart Broad bowling in tandem with him as the latter has bid farewell to international cricket. Ollie Robinson can be the second fast-bowling option for England in the first Test.