England’s selection of Mark Wood alters the bowling dynamics for the Rajkot Test, enhancing their pace options and adjusting the overall bowling balance.
England is set to reintroduce the pace dynamo Mark Wood for the third Test in Rajkot, a change that will see the 34-year-old speedster replace off-spinner Shoaib Bashir, who made his debut in Visakhapatnam.
Wood’s inclusion will inject a fresh dynamic into England’s bowling attack, deviating slightly from the balance observed in the series thus far.
With James Anderson partnering with Wood, England will opt for a two-pronged pace bowling approach, while spin duties will be shared among Tom Hartley, Rehan Ahmed, and Joe Root.
This strategic alteration stems from the pitch conditions and the history of high-scoring encounters at the Rajkot venue.
Reflecting on the decision, Ben Stokes remarked, “I know it was a very long time ago when we played here, but it looks a good wicket.
It’s a bit platey.
Over the five days, those plates might become a little uneven.
There might be some reverse swing which brings Woody into the game and Jimmy as well.”
Wood, who remained wicketless in the series opener in Hyderabad despite bowling 25 overs across two innings, was replaced by James Anderson in Visakhapatnam.
However, with the anticipated pitch conditions in Rajkot, England is counting on Wood’s pace to reap rewards during crucial phases of play.
Stokes further explained the decision to persist with a leg-spinner over a finger spinner like Bashir, citing Rehan Ahmed’s impressive performances in the preceding Tests.
Despite initial concerns surrounding Ahmed’s visa issues post the mid-series break in Abu Dhabi, the management expressed confidence in his inclusion, highlighting his composure and adaptability as a young player.
“We are playing Rehan because he performed really well in the first two Tests,” Stokes emphasized.
“He handled a situation that could have affected quite a lot of people in a different way very, very well for such a young kid.”
With these strategic adjustments, England aims to maximize its chances of success in the pivotal third Test encounter.
The England XI for the Rajkot Test will feature:
| Player Name |
|---|
| Zak Crawley |
| Ben Duckett |
| Ollie Pope |
| Joe Root |
| Jonny Bairstow |
| Ben Stokes (Captain) |
| Ben Foakes |
| Rehan Ahmed |
| Tom Hartley |
| Mark Wood |
| James Anderson |
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