ENG vs IND | ECB announces squad for India Test; Billings recalled

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has announced a 15-man squad for their upcoming and fifth Test match against India. Sam Billings, who was drafted into the England team as a replacement for Ben Foakes against New Zealand in the third Test, has made a full-fledged return to the expanded squadron.

Apart from Matt Parkinson, the ECB has retained every member from their home series against New Zealand for the one-off Test against the visiting Indian team. Ben Stokes is set to continue as his country’s Test leader, following a 3-0 whitewash of the New Zealanders on his maiden captaincy assignment.

As usual, Test cricket’s most proficient pace portmanteau, James Anderson and Stuart Broad, are expected to lead the English pace attack against the likes of visiting Indians.

Here is a look at the entire England squad, as announced by the ECB:

Ben Stokes (c), James Anderson, Jonny Bairstow, Sam Billings, Stuart Broad, Harry Brook, Zak Crawley, Ben Foakes, Jack Leach, Alex Lees, Craig Overton, Jamie Overton, Matthew Potts, Ollie Pope and Joe Root

Upcoming England versus India Test match is scheduled to be played between July 1 and July 5 at Birmingham’s Edgbaston. The five-day encounter will conclude the five-match Test series from the previous English summer when the Indian camp backed out from the series decider due to a rise in COVID-19 cases.

The match will constitute a part of the ongoing ICC World Test Championship.