Third Test between IND and ENG: Mark Wood enters the England starting lineup for the Rajkot clash in lieu of Shoaib Bashir
Mark Wood is part of England’s playing eleven for the third Test match, which takes place in Rajkot on Thursday. The only change to the Ben Stokes-led team’s lineup is that Wood has come in for spinner Shoaib Bashir, who took four wickets in his Visakhapatnam debut.
England’s bowling unit has chosen to include two pacers and an equal number of spinners for the first time in the series. As the only pacer in the first Test of the series in Hyderabad, Wood was replaced by seasoned James Anderson for the second Test.
At the Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Joe Root will be the third spin-bowling option for the visitors, while Rehan Ahmed and Tom Hartley have kept their spots in the starting 11.
The England squad rested for the remainder of the series in Abu Dhabi after taking a break from cricket. Rehan Ahmed had difficulties obtaining a visa upon the England team’s arrival in Rajkot. He was required to remain at the airport until the local authorities provided him with an emergency two-day visa. But the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) eventually handled the matter, and after filing the necessary papers, his participation in the match was approved.
Ben Stokes, the captain of England, will play in his historic 100th Test match and become a member of an exclusive group of players that includes previous greats Stuart Broad, Alastair Cook, and colleague James Anderson.
Following their setback in the series, India beat England by 106 runs to tie the series at one.
After taking six wickets in the first innings of the second Test, Jasprit Bumrah claimed nine wickets in the second innings to dismiss England for 253. Ravichandran Ashwin and Bumrah combined for six wickets in the second innings, allowing England to be dismissed for 292 with 399 needed to win.
Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Jonny Bairstow, Ben Stokes (captain), Ben Foakes (wk), Tom Hartley, Mark Wood, James Anderson are the England players in the lineup for the third Test against India.
