- Mark Wood returns to England squad for final Test against India
- Tom Hartley and Shoaib Bashir confirmed as the two spinners
- England enters the fifth test losing 3-1 in the series
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England today named Shoaib Bashir in their squad for the final Test even though he has succumbed to the virus disease that has affected his team and officials here.
Both Bashir and Ollie Robinson were absent when England trained today at this picturesque ground in the foothills of the Himalayas after suffering a stomach problem overnight which also affected referees Joel Wilson and Kumar Dharmasena.
But England captain Ben Stokes, who announced a change to his team since the fourth Test, bringing in Mark Wood for Robinson, is confident the youngster will be fit enough to take his place on Thursday.
“I don’t think it’s something to worry too much about,” Stokes insisted after picking a balanced team of two seamers and two spinners to play on what he says is “an absolute wicket”.
“They both woke up with a slight stomach upset and the day before the game you don’t want to put anyone at risk, so we decided to keep them away from the team. It’s the sensible thing to do.
England have named Shoaib Bashir in their squad for the fifth Test against India
Ben Stokes (right) is hopeful Bashir will be fit despite succumbing to a mistake
Mark Wood returns to the squad for England’s fifth Test against India
Both the teams and the umpires are staying in the same hotel in Dharamshala and the issue with the umpires could lead to the Test debut of fourth umpire Jayaraman Madanagopal. Wilson should be here with Dharmasena as a TV umpire.
Stokes insists he has no contingency plans in case Bashir does not recover, with England now having just 14 players on this trip after the other two players in his team, Jack Leach and Rehan Ahmed, had to leave. home.
But if Bashir does not recover, England are likely to give Gus Atkinson a Test debut or pick an extra off-spin batsman in Dan Lawrence rather than return to Robinson, who has been ruled out for tactical reasons rather than illness. .
Although Stokes was passionate in his public defense of Robinson today, the recurrence of a back problem that has plagued him during his time with England has to be a concern and he will have to prove his fitness for Sussex before returning to play Test cricket. .
Ollie Robinson was dropped after going wicketless in the fourth Test last week.
Stokes praised Jimmy Anderson, who will play his fourth consecutive Test in this series having recovered from stiffness in his quadriceps and needing just two wickets to become the first seamer in Test history to reach a remarkable 700 wickets. proof.
“I just can’t imagine Jimmy stopping,” Stokes said.
“I have played with him for a long time and I have never seen him as physically fit as he is now. Showing that hunger and desire at 41 years old to improve every day is a testament to his attitude and commitment.”