- Jack Leach will lead a three-pronged spin attack in the first Test in Hyderabad
- Tom Hartley will make his Test debut while seamer Jimmy Anderson will miss out
- EXCLUSIVE: Shoaib Bashir flies back to Britain to get his visa stamped
England will play all three available spinners in the first Test against India, with just one seamer option in Mark Wood.
Jimmy Anderson has not made the cut in an XI that sees Lancashire teammate Tom Hartley make his debut in a three-pronged spin attack plus Joe Root’s part-time free breaks.
The first Test starts on Thursday in Hyderabad, on a pitch that the tourists seem to be anticipating to see plenty of turns.
England’s selection is a big gamble as they name a very young attack, with Jack Leach as senior spinner alongside 19-year-old Rehan Ahmed and Hartley.
The first clash between five of these two teams comes against the backdrop of Shoaib Bashir’s controversial visa battle, with the Somerset spinner forced to fly back to Britain to try to speed up the delays.
England’s Ben Stokes will launch a three-pronged spin attack with just one seam in the first Test against India
Mark Wood will provide the only seam option in attack for England in Hyderabad
Jimmy Anderson will miss the first Test but will have plenty of opportunities to feature in the five-match series
The inclusion of Wood – capable of bringing quick pace to the attack – as the only seaming option sees record wicket-taker Anderson fall to the sidelines for the first Test, although he will certainly have plenty of opportunities to feature in a tour that lasts until mid-March.
However, because Wood is largely a bowler of shorter, imposing bursts, it looks like it will be an attack that will operate in a very different rhythm.
Root is expected to be heavily involved alongside the three regular spinners, with captain Stokes hinting that his predecessor could even open the bowling.
With Harry Brook leaving the touring party for Britain for personal reasons, Jonny Bairstow returns to his role as specialist batsman, while Ben Foakes takes over the gloves.
The Surrey goalkeeper played against New Zealand and South Africa in the early stages of Brendon McCullum’s reign as head coach before being dropped for Bairstow in the Ashes series last summer.
“We all know the impact Jonny made in my first summer as captain,” Stokes said before announcing his team for India.
‘And there’s no doubting the skill Ben Foakes possesses with gloves.’
He added: “He can not only do things that other goalkeepers can’t do, but also make them look incredibly easy,” Stokes said.
Ben Foakes will keep the wicket, while Jonny Bairstow moves up as the batting specialist
“He’s a very special talent and if he has someone like that who can maybe have a 2 to 3 percent chance, that could be huge in the series.”