Moeen Ali & Sam Curran return for fourth Test
England have made multiple changes to their line-up for the fourth Test against India in Southampton.
The hosts, who are 2-1 up after three, have made a couple of personnel changes as well as tweaks to the batting order.
Jonny Bairstow will not keep wicket but is in line to play as a specialist batsman, at No.4 behind Alastair Cook, Keaton Jennings and Joe Root. That means James Vince, who was recalled as cover following the injury to Bairstow’s partially recovered finger, will rejoin his Hampshire teammates for their visit to Chelmsford in the County Championship.
Chris Woakes, who has suffered a recurrence of a quad injury, has been replaced by Sam Curran as an all-rounder. Curran was man of the match at Edgbaston before being dropped to allow Ben Stokes’ return at Trent Bridge.
A further change sees the return of Moeen Ali to the Test XI. Ben Stokes has a minor knee complaint that could restrict his bowling capacity, so Moeen replaces 20-year-old Ollie Pope to help take up the slack in overs. Moeen, who hasn’t played in a Test since Auckland in March, hit a double-century and took six-for in his last Championship outing.
It means Pope has been left out after just two Tests.
The series is fascinatingly poised with two Tests left to play.
England XI for Fourth Test
Alastair Cook
Keaton Jennings
Joe Root (c)
Jonny Bairstow
Ben Stokes
Jos Buttler (wk)
Moeen Ali
Sam Curran
Adil Rashid
Stuart Broad
James Anderson
Just read the story on Vince's bad luck. Is the writer a cricketing prophet? To be recalled after such a period in the doldrums and then miss the final solution. Darn it! Smith & Root should have stuck with Vince, given Bairstow a longer recovery time. If he is struck on that finger again he could be out long term. Also Vince has a great record against spinners.