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England and Wales Cricket Board on Wednesday, January 24 named their Playing XI for the opening Test of the five-match series. India is scheduled to host the first of the five-match series at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad, starting January 25.
ALSO READ: Shoaib Bashir ruled out of first Test due to visa issues
With Shoaib Bashir being ruled out of the opening Test, the side have named Tom Hartley, who will be joined by Jack Leach, Rehan Ahmed, Joe Root in the spin department. Moreover, Mark Wood has been named as the only seamer in the side with James Anderson missing a place.
Furthermore, Ollie Pope, Ben Foakes, Rehan Ahmed and Jack Leach all come into the side after not being named in the last Test, which came against Australia at the Oval last year.
Earlier on Wednesday, England were handed another blow as uncapped England spinner Shoaib Bashir was ruled out of the opening Test following the visa issues. The 20-year-old who was held in Abu Dhabi has notably returned home to sort the visa papers.
England’s Playing XI against India in 1st Test:
Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Jonny Bairstow, Ben Stokes (C), Ben Foakes, Rehan Ahmed, Tom Hartley, Mark Wood, Jack Leach
