England may need to make a last-minute change to their XI for the second Test match against the West Indies at Trent Bridge this week as Ben Duckett could miss the match for the birth of his first child.
The opener was named in England's XI on Wednesday but could make way if the situation changes. Duckett attended the England training session at his home ground in Nottingham on Monday and Tuesday, but may miss out as his partner is due to give birth imminently.
If Duckett is unable to take his place in the XI, England have spare batter Dan Lawrence available to them, although he would not be a natural choice as an opener. Lawrence hasn't played a Test match under Brendon McCullum but has been in the runs for Surrey in the County Championship this season, albeit batting mostly in the middle order.
In a press conference ahead of the Test, Ben Stokes said: "There's a plan in place for Ben and his partner. We'll just have to make a decision if it was to happen before the game started.
#ICYMI: England have announced their XI for the second Test match against West Indies at Trent Bridge, which starts on Thursday.
— Wisden (@WisdenCricket) July 17, 2024
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"If anything happens throughout the Test match, Ben will just go and come back into the team. He's obviously desperate to play at his home ground but the message from me and Baz is family always comes first. Whatever decision you end up making, you'll get the support of me and Baz."
England named their XI on Wednesday, making only one change with Mark Wood coming in to replace the now retired James Anderson. Stokes also confirmed that Gus Atkinson, fresh off his dream 12-wicket-haul on debut, would take the new ball alongside Chris Woakes. Wood was unavailable for the first Test having recently flown back from England's T20 World Cup title campaign in the Caribbean. His inclusion in the side means that Dillon Pennington and Matthew Potts, both in England's squad, will not feature.
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