England’s playing XI for 1st Test against India includes Ollie Pope at No. 3, Jamie Smith as wicketkeeper, and returns for Woakes and Carse.
England have announced their playing XI for the first Test against India, starting Friday at Headingley in Leeds. The team features a strong top order with Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett retaining their places after a strong performance against Zimbabwe. Both openers struck centuries and combined for a double-century stand in that warm-up match.
Ollie Pope will bat at No. 3, replacing Jacob Bethell. Joe Root, Harry Brook, and skipper Ben Stokes form the middle order. Root returns in top form after his recent white-ball heroics against the West Indies. Brook, already a reliable name in Tests, will look to build on his strong start.
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Jamie Smith keeps his spot as wicketkeeper and will bat at No. 7. All-rounder Chris Woakes returns to the side for the first time since December. Brydon Carse, who previously played five overseas Tests, will also make his home debut.
Josh Tongue and off-spinner Shoaib Bashir complete the bowling lineup. Stokes is expected to contribute with the ball, ensuring a well-rounded attack. Notably, with Archer and Wood out due to injury, England are banking on a pace-heavy setup backed by spin.
England’s Playing XI for 1st Test Against India
Ben Duckett, Zak Crawley, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes, Jamie Smith, Chris Woakes, Brydon Carse, Josh Tongue, Shoaib Bashir
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Last Updated on June 18, 2025
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