Last Updated on 4 years by Charbel Coorey
England’s best possible XI for Day/Night Test vs India | Looking at England’s best possible XI for the upcoming D/N Test against India
The England team will look to bounce back after they suffer a humiliating loss in the second Test after India leveled (1-1) the four-match Test series. This is especially with a final spot up for grabs in the World Test Championship.
After missing the first two Tests in Chennai, Mark Wood and Jonny Bairstow have returned to the England Test set-up. Sam Curran won’t be a part of the Test side and will miss the last 2 Tests. Moeen Ali will also be unavailable for selection as he has flown back home.
England is down after the heavy defeat in the last Test, so let’s see how will England rejig their XI with all of these squad changes and rotation policy in mind.
Dom Sibley
The unconventional opener had a great start to the series with an excellent 87 in the first innings but since then he hardly gets going in the last 3 innings. With Rory Burns struggling to find form, Sibley would’ve to take the extra responsibility of run-scoring at the top. The Warwickshire opener has played against the pink ball in a tour match for England Lions at the MCG. He scored a hundred in that game and this would give him some confidence going onto the next game.
Zak Crawley
The fact that India’s ace off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin is a difficult operator for the left-hand batsmen, coupled with Burns’ struggles in the last four innings, this could tempt the team management to give Zak Crawley a go. Crawley was in England’s plans for the first two Tests but a wrist injury ruled him out. If Crawley is passed fit he might just get a nod ahead of Burns.
Jonny Bairstow
Bairstow is back in contention for the third Test against India after ten days break at home. The 31-year-old was a part of the team which defeated Sri Lanka in January. He played in both the Tests and batted at number 3. With Dan Lawrence failing to impress in either of the two Tests, Bairstow is likely to be slotted back to his preferred position at 3. Bairstow’s experience of playing in the Indian conditions should provide stability at the top.
Joe Root
This year has seen the best of the English skipper in Test cricket. He has amassed over 600 runs in the four Test matches. Root was the pioneer of England’s win in the opening Test of the series. At 4 he provides solidity to the batting group. The Yorkshire batsman has been terrific against the Indian bowling and needs to play the role of the blinder again in the third Test.
Ben Stokes
It’s been a quiet start to the tour by the standards of the number one Test all-rounder in the world. Stokes, like Sibley, played a substantial inning in the first innings of the first Test but since then, he’s been a pale shadow of himself. He particularly struggled against Ashwin and England would be hoping that their star all-rounder does well with the bat. If he can blossom with the bat then automatically one will see that zip in his bowling too.
Ollie Pope
Pope, since returning from injury, hasn’t set the stage on fire. Still, he’s been handy lower down the order with some useful contributions although England team management would like to see more runs coming from his bat. Pope by far has been England’s best bid at 6 since the tour to South Africa in 2020.
Ben Foakes
Jos Buttler’s departure led to the comeback of Foakes in the Test setup for the first time since 2019. Foakes was quick to make an impact with his glovework and batting as he showed good application with the bat on a turner. His glovework was impressive considering it was his first Test on Indian soil. He’ll take the confidence of the last game into the next game and this time hopefully for England in a winning cause.
Jofra Archer
Jofra Archer had a sore elbow which kept him out of action in the second Test. The Barbadian is expected to walk into the XI in place of Moeen Ali. High-arm action, ability to bowl quick and hurry the batsman with his pace alone makes him a go-to option for Joe Root in the pink ball Test. As a bowler capable of generating 90mph pace, Archer had the means to transcend the conditions.
Jack Leach
Jack Leach is likely to play as the lone spinner as the visitors are expected to go with the 3 seaming options in a day-night game at Motera. Leach has been the standout spinner for the touring party. The Indian team has 5 right-handers in the top 6 and the left arm angle of Leach pushes his case ahead of Bess and others.
James Anderson
The rotation policy of the tourists made Anderson sit out despite the magical spell with the old ball on the last day of the first Test which eventually won the game for England. The day-night game at the Motera will mark the return of England’s record wicket-taker. He enjoys bowling under lights, he has one five-wicket haul with the pink ball. If there’s some live grass on the wicket then Anderson again will pose a big challenge for the Indian batting line-up.
Stuart Broad
Broad bowled 20 overs in the second Test but went wicketless in both innings at the MA Chidambaram Stadium which offered turn and bounce for the spinners right from day 1. He created chances in the second innings but neither Foakes nor Stokes held on to those opportunities. The day-night Test will be ideal for England to play their most experienced duo together. Broad-Anderson bowling in tandem with Archer in support might be the best option for England with the pink ball.
Written by Vaibhav Tripathi. Follow Vaibhav on Twitter today.
