To alter the bowling balance for the Rajkot Test, England selects Mark Wood

To alter the bowling balance for the Rajkot Test, England selects Mark Wood

Mark Wood, an England speedster, will return for the third Test in Rajkot. Off-spinner Shoaib Bashir, who made his debut in Visakhapatnam, will be replaced in the starting XI by the 34-year-old quick.

Wood’s choice will give England’s bowling attack a slightly different balance than what they have used so far in the series. They will use a two-pronged pace bowling attack, with Wood and James Anderson partnered, and Tom Hartley, Rehan Ahmed, and Joe Root splitting the spin duties. Given the pitch and the history of high scores in the previous two Test matches played at this location, the change in tactics was probably required.

“There’s a good chance that two seamers will be used if things continue that way,” Ollie Pope said to BBC Sport on Tuesday, February 13. “There is currently a little more grass on it, but I don’t want to reveal too many secrets. The pitch appears to be quite strong.

Wood participated in the first game of the series in Hyderabad, but despite bowling 25 overs in two innings, he did not pick up a wicket. In Visakhapatnam, he was replaced by James Anderson, a 41-year-old veteran who made an immediate impression on a surface that allowed for some seam movement, especially in the first hour of play.

Ben Stokes will rely on Wood’s air speed to get wickets during difficult play, if the pitch performs as expected. Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Jonny Bairstow, Ben Stokes (c), Ben Foakes (wk), Rehan Ahmed, Tom Hartley, Mark Wood, James Anderson are the England XI for the Rajkot Test.