ENG v IND 2021: England announces 17-man squad for first two India Tests; Hameed and Robinson included

Ben Stokes made his return to the England side after missing the New Zealand Tests.

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has announced a 17-man squad for the first two Test matches against India. The first Test will begin from August 4 in Trent Bridge, Nottingham, while the second Test match will be played at the Lord’s from August 12 onwards.

The squad features regulars like captain Joe Root and vice-captain Jos Buttler. Also making his return is all-rounder Ben Stokes and Jonny Bairstow. Rory Burns, Dom Sibley, Zack Crawley, and Dan Lawrence keep their places from the New Zealand Test series. Haseeb Hameed also keeps his place in the squad.

Sam Curran, Mark Wood, and the experienced pace duo of James Anderson and Stuart Broad form the pace bowling attack. The pace contingent also sees the return of Ollie Robinson, who had made a grand debut against New Zealand picking 7 wickets and making useful runs.

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Robinson had been suspended from international cricket by ECB after his old racial and crass tweets resurfaced while he was playing his debut Test against New Zealand at Lord’s.

Dom Bess and Jack Leach are the spinners, while Ollie Pope has been retained after seemingly recovering from his injury.

Here is the England squad for the first two Tests against India:

Joe Root (C), James Anderson, Jonny Bairstow, Dom Bess, Stuart Broad, Rory Burns, Jos Buttler, Zak Crawley, Sam Curran, Haseeb Hameed, Dan Lawrence, Jack Leach, Ollie Pope, Ollie Robinson, Dom Sibley, Ben Stokes, Mark Wood