England have announced their XI for the second Test match against West Indies at Trent Bridge, which starts on Thursday, July 18.
The second Test of the home summer marks the start of a new era for England; the post-Anderson one. After the first Test of this series at Lord's last week, the pacer's international career came to an end with 704 Test wickets, the third-most in the history of the game.
England announced that Anderson, who remains with the squad in a mentoring capacity, would be replaced by Mark Wood in the squad. The same replacement has taken place as far as the playing XI for the second Test is concerned. It is the only change England have made to the team which beat West Indies by an innings and 114 runs.
In an exclusive interview with @melindafarrell for the latest edition of WCM, Eoin Morgan has backed Jos Buttler and Matthew Mott to stay on as England's white-ball leadership despite their double World Cup losses in the last nine months.
— Wisden (@WisdenCricket) July 16, 2024
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Five of England's batting lineup — Zak Crawley, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook and debutant Jamie Smith — struck half-centuries in the first Test, and will be looking to pick up where they left off. For the two Bens, Duckett and Stokes, the second Test provides an opportunity to play themselves back into form.
Gus Atkinson, who took 12-106 on debut last time out, keeps his place, as do Chris Woakes and off-spinner Shoaib Bashir (who was not required to bowl at Lord's).
Interestingly, despite England (informally) deeming this series as one to blood youngsters into the team and look beyond Anderson, neither Matthew Potts nor Dillon Pennington finds a place in the XI. One or both of them could yet make an appearance in the third Test.
England XI for 2nd Test against West Indies
Zak Crawley
Ben Duckett
Ollie Pope
Joe Root
Harry Brook
Ben Stokes (c)
Jamie Smith (wk)
Chris Woakes
Gus Atkinson
Mark Wood
Shoaib Bashir
We've made one change from Lord's 👇
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) July 16, 2024
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