India vs England: Jonny Bairstow returns as visitors announce squad for third Test

England have announced their squad for the third Test of the ongoing four-match series against India. The visitors revealed the squad right after the conclusion of the second Test at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai. India thrashed the visitors by 317 runs in the game to draw level in the four-match series.

India thoroughly dominated the contest to inflict a heavy defeat on the visitors. Chasing an improbable total of 482 runs on a tough Chepauk track, England’s batsmen fell like a pack of cards. Barring Joe Root, no other batsman managed to face more than 90 balls on the deteriorating track which assisted the spinners right from day one.

England was eventually all out for 164. For India, debutant Axar Patel starred with the ball, taking five wickets while Ravichandran Ashwin and Kuldeep Yadav picked three and two wickets respectively. Earlier in the game, India scored 329 and 286 runs in their first and second innings. England, on the other hand, had managed only 134 in their first innings.

England squad

England have added Jonny Bairstow and fast bowler Mark Wood to the squad for the upcoming third Test. Both the players were rested for the first two games as part of England’s rotation policy. In another change, all-rounder Moeen Ali has not been named in the squad. The spin-bowling all-rounder will return home for a break.

Jofra Archer, who missed the second Test due to an elbow injury, has returned to the squad too. Zak Crawley has been named in the team too. The likes of James Anderson, Dom Bess are looking set to play the third Test after being rested for the second game. Both the players had taken five wickets each in the first Test to help the visitors win the game by 227 runs.

The third and penultimate match of the series is scheduled to start on February 24. England needs to win the game to keep alive their hopes of making it to the final of the ICC World Test Championship.

England squad for the third Test

Joe Root (c), James Anderson, Jofra Archer, Jonny Bairstow, Dom Bess, Stuart Broad, Rory Burns, Zak Crawley, Ben Foakes, Dan Lawrence, Jack Leach, Ollie Pope, Dom Sibley, Ben Stokes, Olly Stone, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood.