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Sam Billings remains in the squad as Ben Foakes continues to recover from Covid; watch England vs India live on Friday from 9.30am on Sky Sports Cricket, with play getting under way at 10.30am
Last Updated: 30/06/22 1:13pm
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England Test captains Ben Stokes explains why he did not bowl as much in the third test against New Zealand and says he wants to keep pushing his other bowlers as far as he can.
England Test captains Ben Stokes explains why he did not bowl as much in the third test against New Zealand and says he wants to keep pushing his other bowlers as far as he can.
Ben Stokes has announced James Anderson will return to the team in place of Jamie Overton for England’s rearranged final Test against India, starting on Friday.
The England skipper also confirmed Ben Foakes remains out as he continues to recover from Covid, meaning Kent’s Sam Billings keeps his place behind the stumps.
“Unfortunately Foakesy hasn’t recovered as well as we’d have liked him to,” Stokes said. “So Sam is going to stay in the team and keep.
“(Foakes) hasn’t really recovered from last week and doesn’t feel like he could give the best account of himself this week. We took the decision out of his hands and said ‘get yourself better’.”
Ben Stokes has underlined his faith in Zak Crawley at the top of the order
Overton’s omission follows an impressive performance against New Zealand that saw him fire 97 with the bat as part of a key partnership with Jonny Bairstow to spark an England revival from 55-6.
He had replaced Anderson in the team as England’s record wicket-taker sat out the final game due to injury.
“That’s how sport at the top level works sometimes,” Stokes said. “It must be very disappointing for him but he can walk away knowing he did everything he could.”
Stokes also offered his backing to opener Zak Crawley after the Kent man endured a difficult time against New Zealand’s bowling attack, managing four single-digit scores between knocks of 43 and 25.
“When we picked the squad before we’d even played a Test match the squad was picked on the basis that every player in every position is the best player in England to carry us forward in the way we want to,” said Stokes.
“This team and this squad is going to be given a lot of time to perform. Zak Crawley is still in my plans, Brendan’s plans going forward to make this happen. Regardless (of what happens against India).”
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England Test captain Ben Stokes says his team will maintain an attacking style of play against India having had success in the three-test series against New Zealand.
Stokes admitted that if any team can play more aggressive it is this England team as it seeks to turn a corner under the leadership of Brendon McCullum.
“We’ve just beaten the best team in the world 3-0, India are obviously a completely different opposition, different dynamic of team, but we concentrate on ourselves, we understand what we do well,” he explained.
“We have also taken into account who we are playing against, but because the opposition changes it doesn’t mean we’re going to change.”
England XI vs India: Zak Crawley, Alex Lees, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Jonny Bairstow, Ben Stokes (c), Sam Billings (wk), Matthew Potts, Stuart Broad, Jack Leach, James Anderson.
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