In a surprising move, England has decided to retain two spinners for the fifth Test against India in Dharamsala, with Mark Wood coming in for Ollie Robinson as the only change in the XI from the previous match in Ranchi. The decision comes despite expectations of seam-friendly conditions in Dharamsala, where the pitch was recently used for a Ranji Trophy match that saw all 36 wickets fall to seam.
The final decision on the XI was made after a pitch inspection by the management team, which included Ben Stokes, Brendon McCullum, Marcus Trescothick, and Jeetan Patel. England has opted to stick with the balance that kept them competitive in Ranchi, with Shoaib Bashir’s offspin retained alongside Tom Hartley’s left-arm spin.
There were concerns over Bashir’s availability due to a cut on his spinning finger sustained during the fourth Test. However, England believes the injury will not hinder him significantly. Both Bashir and Robinson were also dealing with stomach complaints on the morning of the match, leading to their exclusion from the team’s last training session as a precautionary measure to prevent the bug from spreading.
England captain Stokes expressed confidence that Bashir would recover in time for the match, with no specific contingency plan in place. The team has Gus Atkinson and Dan Lawrence as the other members of the 14-man squad.
Robinson’s omission was decided before the match day and comes after a lackluster performance in the fourth Test, where he suffered a back strain and was not used in India’s run-chase. Wood, England’s fastest bowler, returns to the XI after being rested in Ranchi.
Stokes hinted at the pitch offering pace and carry, making Wood’s inclusion crucial. The absence of a specialist third seamer suggests Stokes may bowl in this Test, although he downplayed any expectations, stating that his bowling would be a bonus if it happens.
England’s bowling attack will once again be led by James Anderson, who is on the cusp of reaching 700 Test wickets. Stokes praised Anderson’s fitness and commitment to the game, highlighting his hunger and desire to improve even at the age of 41.
The England XI for the fifth Test includes Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Jonny Bairstow, Ben Stokes, Ben Foakes, Tom Hartley, Mark Wood, James Anderson, and Shoaib Bashir.
The match is scheduled to take place at the HPCA stadium in Himachal Pradesh, with India leading the series 2-1.
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