England name unchanged squad for India tour

(Photo: Getty Images)

By Harvey Burgess

England have named an unchanged squad ahead of the forthcoming Test series in India.

Jake Ball remains part of the squad after James Anderson was ruled out of the first Test, due to begin in Rajkot on 9 November.

England’s all-time leading wicket taker, who has not yet recovered from a shoulder injury that has plagued him since the summer, may also miss the second and third Tests, meaning he would be in line for a return to action in Mumbai on 8 December.

The selectors have chosen not to recall batsman Alex Hales, who decided against taking part in the side’s tour of Bangladesh because of security concerns. The 27-year-old endured a disappointing run of form against Pakistan in the summer but is set to return for the ODIs and T20s against India, which take place in the first two months of 2017.

The Durham fast bowler Mark Wood remains unavailable after undergoing another ankle operation and has been ruled out of the Test series in India. The 26-year-old fractured his left ankle during a County Championship match against Surrey this summer and has required three operations in the last 12 months. No date has yet been set for his return from injury.

England will travel to India when they complete their tour of Bangladesh, where they hold a 1-0 lead in the two-match Test series after a thrilling 22-run victory in the first Test in Chittagong.

Captain Alistair Cook has suggested that players would likely be rotated during the tours of Bangladesh in India, with his side facing a demanding schedule of five Tests in just under six weeks against Virat Kohli’s team.

England squad: Alastair Cook (capt), Moeen Ali, Zafar Ansari, Jonny Bairstow (wk), Jake Ball, Gary Ballance, Gareth Batty, Stuart Broad, Jos Buttler (wk), Ben Duckett, Steven Finn, Haseeb Hameed, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Ben Stokes, Chris Woakes.