IND vs ENG, 3rd Test 2024: Ben Stokes hints at including Mark Wood in England's playing XI against India

After failing to clinch a wicket in the first Test in Hyderabad, England replaced Mark Wood with James Anderson in the second match of the series in Visakhapatnam. The veteran pacer did a remarkable job and will likely retain his position as England are keen on changing their strategy for the third Test in Rajkot.

Notably, the visitors played with just one seamer in the first two Test matches of the series but in the third, they are likely to drop a spinner to play an extra seamer. As things stand, Shoaib Bashir, who made his debut in Visakhapatnam is likely to make his way out. Tom Hartley, who has been England’s leading wicket-taker so far in the series will retain his place, alongside Rehan Ahmed, who became the latest England player to deal with visa issues.

“It's not a concern. The guys who dealt with it at the airport did a really good job, given where we found ourselves. I'm confident that will be sorted tonight or tomorrow,” skipper Ben Stokes was quoted as saying by ESPNcricinfo when asked about Rehan’s visa issues.

If we were to go with two seamers, we might get a bit more versatility and use Woody: Stokes

Meanwhile, England skipper Ben Stokes is also high on Wood’s pace, which can come in handy as India have an inexperienced middle order for the third Test of the series. The Christchurch-born all-rounder noted that an extra seamer in the playing XI will give the pacers some rest to manage their workload and it will also bring versatility in the playing XI.

“Obviously having Woody's high pace, and if we were to go with two seamers again, it would give a bit more rest to Woody as he was that sole seamer in the first Test. So managing his workload. If we were to go with two seamers, we might be able to get a bit more versatility and use Woody how we want to use him out here and not worry he's the only seamer,” Stokes said.

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A final call on the playing XI will be made after England looks at the surface on Wednesday (February 14) afternoon. However, the changes are more or less confirmed and can be announced on the same day.