England regain Carse and Woakes for first Test against India, Atkinson out with hamstring injury

England’s remodeled pace attack lost Gus Atkinson to injury but has regained Chris Woakes and Brydon Carse for the first Test against India starting on June 20 in Leeds.

With Atkinson ruled out of selection after injuring his right hamstring in the innings defeat of Zimbabwe in last month’s one-off Test, England again has had to shuffle a fast-bowler unit missing injured pair Mark Wood (knee) and Jofra Archer (thumb) and permanently deprived of now-retired stalwarts James Anderson and Stuart Broad.

Woakes has only recently returned from a long-term ankle injury and has been playing for England’s second-string Lions against India A. Carse also missed the match against Zimbabwe while he fully recovered from a toe injury sustained while playing in the Champions Trophy in February, but is set to return.

Meanwhile, Jamie Overton, a bowling allrounder, has been picked despite breaking his right little finger during a one-day international against the West Indies on May 29 and is back in the Test squad for the first time since June 2022 when he earned his sole cap against New Zealand.

That was at Headingley, where England and India will begin their highly anticipated five-match series.

On Atkinson’s fitness, England selector Luke Wright said on a video call it was a minor injury and added: “We are going to try and get him ready for the second or third” Test.

Fast bowler Jofra Archer is in contention to play for England in their second Test, said Wright. He added that an exact idea of Archer’s fitness will come when Sussex play Durham in a County Championship game at Chester-le-Street happening in two weeks’ time.

Archer hasn’t played red-ball cricket for four years due to multiple injuries in elbow and back. He was set to make a red-ball comeback for England Lions in their series against India A, but a thumb injury picked while fielding for Rajasthan Royals in IPL 2025 has kept him out of action.

“Jof’s also trucking along really well actually. The plan is for him to play a few second-team games, loading up in the second team for Sussex. Then the idea for him is to play for Sussex against Durham during the first Test (when it begins in Leeds on June 20).”

“Then if all things go well, fingers crossed, he should be available for the second Test. Like anything with all these bowlers, he’s got to keep ticking things off everyday with no setbacks. But, if all goes well and he gets through that Durham game, then he’s available potentially for selection for that second Test,” said Wright to reporters after England’s squad for the first Test was announced on Thursday.

Also in the 14-man squad is rising star batter Jacob Bethell, who didn’t return home from the Indian Premier League to play against Zimbabwe but has been playing in the ODIs against the Windies.

It looks to be a straight shootout between Bethell and Ollie Pope to bat at No. 3, but Pope has the edge given he is vice captain and scored a big century against the Zimbabweans.

Wright said no decision had been made yet on whether the 21-year-old Bethell would come straight into the team having impressed on tour in New Zealand late last year.

There will be further Tests at Edgbaston, Lord’s, Old Trafford and the Oval.

Meanwhile, opener Phil Salt will miss England’s upcoming three-match T20I series against the West Indies after being granted paternity leave, said the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) on Thursday.

The ECB in its statement said wicketkeeper-batter Jamie Smith is now Salt’s replacement in the squad. “Salt, who is taking time away on paternity leave following the birth of his child earlier this week, will now spend time at home,” further said the ECB.

Salt had gone back home for the birth of his child after playing a match-winning knock of 56 not out off 27 balls in Royal Challengers Bengaluru beating Punjab Kings in Qualifier 1 of IPL 2025 in New Chandigarh.

Agencies