England Announces 14-Member Squad for 1st Test Against India – Atkinson Ruled Out, Stokes Set to Bowl

England have named a 14-member squad for the first Test against India, starting June 20 at Headingley, Leeds. However, they’ll be without key pacers Jofra Archer, Mark Wood and Gus Atkinson, all sidelined due to injuries. While skipper Ben Stokes is back to bowling, England’s pace attack looks a bit thin and might find it tough against a young but fearless Indian batting lineup.

Now that Kohli and Rohit have stepped away from Test cricket, Shubman Gill will wear the captain’s hat. Ravindra Jadeja, KL Rahul, and Karun Nair (making a surprise return after nine years) bring most of the experience to the side. Jasprit Bumrah will lead the pace attack. India really wants to break their England drought they haven’t won a Test series there since 2007. This tour also kicks off the new World Test Championship cycle for 2025–27.

Jofra Archer’s Injury Struggles Continues

Jofra Archer, who hasn’t played a Test since 2021 in India, has been dealing with ongoing elbow issues and is now also recovering from a right thumb injury. He was earlier ruled out of England’s white-ball series against the West Indies. Mark Wood is also on the sidelines with a ligament tear in his right knee, an injury he picked up during England’s loss to Afghanistan in the ICC Champions Trophy. After undergoing surgery, he’s expected to be out until the end of July, which means he’ll miss the entire Test series against India.

Gus Atkinson is recovering from a hamstring injury and is expected to be available later in the Test series. In the meantime, England have brought Jamie Overton back into the squad, he last played a Test in 2022 and was in the Chennai Super Kings line-up this IPL season. There’s some good news, too: Brydon Carse and Chris Woakes are both fully fit. Woakes is even expected to get some game time in the England Lions vs India A match to get ready for the main tests.

Besides the injured Gus Atkinson, pacer Matthew Potts and 21-year-old wicketkeeper-batter James Rew were not included in the squad. Rew is yet to make his Test debut, while Potts played in last year’s Test series against New Zealand. He has taken 36 wickets in 10 Tests at an average of 29.44, including two four-wicket hauls.

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