England have named their playing XI for the opening Test against India at Headingley, confirming Ollie Pope will continue at No.3 and Brydon Carse is set for his first Test at home.
Pope Holds No.3 Position
Ollie Pope, who returned to the No.3 spot with a brilliant 171 against Zimbabwe, has been rewarded with another opportunity in the pivotal position. Pope had a challenging run last year, despite his epic 196 in Hyderabad against India early in 2024. The management, however, has shown confidence in the vice-captain, especially after Jacob Bethell impressed with three fifties on debut but is unavailable due to IPL commitments.
Carse Ready for Home Debut
Fast bowler Brydon Carse, who debuted in Pakistan at the end of 2024, has played all five of his Tests away from home so far, taking 27 wickets. He now gets his first chance to play a Test on home soil, having recovered from toe surgery and featured in the recent limited-overs series against West Indies.
Stable Line-up
Josh Tongue and Shoaib Bashir keep their spots in the side, while Jamie Smith will handle wicketkeeping duties. The Test is set to begin on June 20 at Headingley.
England XI for 1st Test vs India:
- Zak Crawley
- Ben Duckett
- Ollie Pope
- Joe Root
- Harry Brook
- Ben Stokes (c)
- Jamie Smith (wk)
- Chris Woakes
- Brydon Carse
- Josh Tongue
- Shoaib Bashir
