England make changes to their squad for 3rd Test vs India

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has announced a major change to their squad by including pacer Gus Atkinson after losing the second Test by 336 runs to India at Edgbaston, Birmingham, on Sunday, July 6.

It’s important to note that the English pace attack comprising Chris Woakes, Brydon Carse, and Josh Tongue has bowled close to 80 overs each in the first two Tests of the ongoing five-match series. 

Now, Atkinson will join the likes of Jofra Archer, Sam Cook, and Jamie Overton as other seam bowling options in the 16-man squad for the third Test at Lord’s in London, scheduled to start on Wednesday, July 9.

"It's no secret that we have spent some time in the field and bowled some overs in the first two games, and we'll have to see how everyone pulls up over the next two days. With it being a quick turnaround, there probably will be a decision we have to make given how everyone does pull up after this game,” England captain Ben Stokes said.

It’s worth noting that Archer last played a Test match in February 2021, and the upcoming Lord’s Test will witness his comeback to the longest format of the game after a gap of four long years. Head coach Brendon McCullum has hinted that the pacer will make his comeback.

"We'll let this one settle, and when we get to [Lord's] we'll have a good think about it," McCullum told the BBC's Test Match Special.

"He's fit and ready to go. Obviously the other boys have had two Test matches on the spin now, so you'd anticipate you would make a change at some stage with the line-up, and Jofra is one we'll look at. Everyone's in consideration for the game at Lord's,” Stokes added.

England squad for 3rd Test: Ben Stokes (c), Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Shoaib Bashir, Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook, Brydon Carse, Sam Cook, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Jamie Overton, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Jamie Smith, Josh Tongue, Chris Woakes.

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