Anderson, Stokes and Rashid return to England team for the 2nd Test

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has announced its 14-man squad for the second Test of the series against Pakistan at Old Trafford. Pacer James Anderson, all-rounder Ben Stokes and leg-spinner Adil Rashid have been added to the squad.

While Anderson and Stokes have recovered from their respective injuries, Rashid will hope to cash on to the opportunity and claim a spot in the starting XI. The home team would do everything in their power to bounce back and level the series at Old Trafford before things go out of hand. It was the Pakistan leg-spinner Yasir Shah who stooped the English side in the Lord’s Test with a 10-wicket match haul.

All the three players are at the moment playing for their respective sides in the County Championship. Anderson who represents Lancashire and Stokes who plays for Durham are playing against each other and have been pretty comfortable in their comeback games. Jimmy bowled 22 overs in the first inning and scalped three wickets against 58 runs.

This is Stokes’ first game since the 1st Test against Sri Lanka at Headingley in May and seems to have completely recovered from the surgery done for a cartilage tear in his left knee.

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The duo is making their way back into the team but injuries and niggles have stayed with the team since debutant seamer Jake Ball reported tightness in his left thigh during the match and his fitness will be reviewed ahead of the match starting 22nd July.

On the other hand, Toby Roland-Jones the Middlesex pacer who was a part of the team for the first Test will join the England Lions team since Anderson is back in the fold.

England 14-man squad for the second Test:

Alastair Cook (C), Moeen Ali, James Anderson, Jonny Bairstow, Gary Balance, Jake Ball, Stuart Broad, Steven Finn, Alex Hales, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Ben Stokes, James Vince, Chris Woakes