Good morning and welcome to Telegraph Sport’s coverage of England’s rescheduled test match against India at Edgbaston, concluding what has become the longest test run in history.
England have made two changes, with Sam Billings for the sick Ben Foakes and James Anderson again to lead the bowling attack.
Jamie Overton has been sidelined for Anderson, who is back in shape after an ankle injury. Overton made 97 in the debut and grabbed two ports, but has been unable to displace the first-choice trio of Anderson, Stuart Broad and Matthew Potts.
Captain Ben Stokes said the Surrey reaper’s unexpected baptismal efforts weren’t enough to earn him another chance this week, but he has put himself in a strong position.
“Jamie had a chance to show what you can do on a cricket field and he gave the best possible account of himself,” Stokes said.
“Clearly he is someone we see who has a bright and long future for him.
“Obviously it must be very disappointing for him, but he can walk away knowing he did everything he could have done last week to really advance his name to see a good race for England. That’s how sport at the top .Level can work sometimes “.
The test series will conclude over the next five days almost a year after it started after a Covid outbreak at the Indian camp last September, leaving England ahead 2-1.
The reordered test, which was canceled just hours before the game began at Old Trafford, is played on different terrain, with different captains and coaches and even a different start time.
England had the option of handing over the gloves to fit Jonny Bairstow and giving Harry Brook of Yorkshire a first game in the middle order, but Stokes was unwilling to commit a player who produced the best series in the world. his career against New Zealand.
“Jonny is in the shape of his life right now. He’s our best mid-order hitter right now,” he said.
“We just want Jonny to focus on baptism because, anyway, he’s thinking.”