Archer had recently shown promising signs of form and fitness, bowling 18 overs in a County Championship game for Sussex. He was expected to come in for Josh Tongue, but with his absence, Tongue retains his place and will have another chance to impress when the second Test begins on July 2.
Batting Looks Solid, Bowling Under Scrutiny
England head into the second match with confidence after pulling off a five-wicket win in the series opener at Headingley, thanks to a strong batting performance. Several top-order batters stepped up, with two of the top three scoring centuries. The likes of Zak Crawley, Joe Root, and Harry Brook also chipped in with fifties, easing any concerns about the batting lineup.
However, captain Ben Stokes couldn’t make a mark with the bat and will be looking to contribute more in the second Test. The team will also hope for better support from the lower middle order moving forward.
The bowling unit, though, remains a point of concern. It looked largely ineffective in patches during the first Test. Chris Woakes, who typically excels in English conditions, managed just one wicket. Spinner Shoaib Bashir was expensive and failed to create pressure. With the Edgbaston pitch likely to offer more spin, England will be counting on Bashir to step up—possibly with some guidance from newly appointed spin-bowling consultant Moeen Ali.
Why Jasprit Bumrah Might Be Rested for the Edgbaston Test Against England
Having taken a 1-0 lead, England will be eager to push for another win and take firm control of the series.
England’s Playing XI for the 2nd Test vs India:
Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Jamie Smith (wk), Ben Stokes (c), Chris Woakes, Brydon Carse, Josh Tongue, Shoaib Bashir.
