England are set to face India in the third Test at Lord's starting from July 10. The series is level at 1-1 after India made a comeback in the second Test at Edgbaston.
Previously, England won the first Test at Headingley to gain the lead in the series. However, the hosts were outplayed by India in the third Test in the absence of Jasprit Bumrah.
In the last three Tests at Lord's between the two sides, India have won three games while England have won one. India won the 2014 Test match courtesy of Ishant Sharma's brilliant 7-wicket haul. England won the 2018 Test match. Chris Woakes scored an unbeaten ton in that game. India again won the 2021 Test match with KL Rahul and Mohammed Siraj starring for India.
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England Squad For 3rd Test Against India
England have announced their squad for the third Test by bringing in Gus Atkinson into the side. They also have Jofra Archer ready and available for selection heading into the iconic Lord's Test. There is so much at stake for both teams at the iconic venue. England red-ball coach Brendon McCullum has hinted at a few changes after his team went down at Edgbaston.
In this article, we predict England's likely playing XI for the third Test against India at Lord's starting from July 10.
- Top Order
While Ben Duckett has been consistent for England at the top-order, Zak Crawley has been largely inconsistent. Former England skipper Michael Vaughan said that he is lucky to still play Test cricket for England after failing to convert his starts. This is where England can go bold and bring in Jacob Bethell instead of Crawley for the third Test with the side needing to take a lead in the series. The right-hander was out for a duck in the second innings with England chasing over 600 runs in the second Test. Bethell is young and should be allowed to express himself in the Test match. Bethell has played three Test matches so far and has an average of 52 already.
- Middle Order
England's missile order will consist of Ollie Pope, Joe Root and Harry Brook batting at three four and five respectively. Pope and Brook have scored centuries in the series and looks in pretty good nick. Root has just scored 109 runs in the first two Tests. He missed an opportunity to score big in Jasprit Bumrah's absence at Edgbaston. With Bumrah returning in the third Test, Root will be worried. Jamie Smith, the keeper-batter will bat at seven.
- All-Rounders
Skipper Ben Stokes and Chris Woakes are set to be the all-rounders in the XI. Woakes has a hundred against India at Lord's that he scored in the 2018 Test match. England need runs from Stokes after his batting was criticised recently by Ravichandran Ashwin. Stokes averages less than 25 against India with the bat and with the ball has taken 46 wickets.
- Bowlers
England's bowling attack for the Lord's Test might have a very different look to it than the first two Tests, Jofra Archer and Gus Atkinson should come in for Brydon Carse and Josh Tongue. While Tongue has been expensive against the top-order, Carse is facing problems with his right foot and especially his right thumb. Thus Archer and Atkinson will share the new ball with Woakes being the third seamer and Stokes the fourth. Atkinson averages 11 with the ball at Lord's and 44 with the bat. Shoaib Bashir will continue to be the specialist spinner with Joe Root being the other option.
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England's Probable Playing XI For Third Test vs England
Ben Duckett, Jacob Bethell, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (C), Jamie Smith (WK), Chris Woakes, Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Shoaib Bashir
Also Read: IND vs ENG: Brendon McCullum accepts skipper Ben Stokes got it wrong in massive India defeat
