ENG vs IND Tests 2025: Detailed analysis of how England’s bowling unit stacks up without key stars.
After missing out on the last three World Test Championship (WTC) final qualifications, England have another opportunity to turn the table under Ben Stokes. They have started the home Test summer well with a victory over Zimbabwe in the four-day fixture. However, they aim to hold their incredible unbeaten home red-ball series record against India since 2007.
Gus Atkinson’s hamstring strain and Matthew Potts’ off-form have pushed the home selectors to recall Jamie Overton for the opening game of the five Tests. The Surrey all-rounder was ruled out from the middle of the home ODI series against the West Indies with a thumb injury.
England lack experience in bowling attack for opening Headingley Test
Atkinson’s injury has created a huge gap in the pace bowling attack for the national side. There were periods during the Zimbabwe Test when they looked dry and were waiting for things to happen. Chris Woakes and Brydon Carse missed their victory over the Craig Ervine-led side at Trent Bridge.
The former can feature in the second unofficial Test against India A in Northampton. Carse, on the other hand, looked sharp against the Shai Hope-led side in the 50-over format.
Overton won his only red-ball cap against New Zealand three years ago. The clash took place at Headingley, the venue for the first Test against India on June 20. The 31-year-old made a match-turning 97-run knock in the first inning, besides picking a wicket in both innings.
However, he played only three County Championship games since the start of the last season due to injury and the IPL. England’s selector, Luke Wright, feels that the all-rounder’s ‘huge amount of pace and bounce’ will be a huge threat.
Shoaib Bashir is the only premier spinner of the squad. The off-spinner earned the ‘Player of the Match’ award with nine wickets in Nottingham. Towards the end of the summer, he will have a huge role to play.
Sam Cook retained his place after the debut fixture against Zimbabwe. Tongue, who looked sharp with the short balls, will also feature for the England Lions to prepare for the opening Leeds Test.
Read More: Who will lead India’s bowling attack after Jasprit Bumrah leaves the scene
England’s squad for opening Test vs India
Shoaib Bashir, Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook, Brydon Carse, Sam Cook, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Jamie Overton, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Jamie Smith (wk), Ben Stokes (captain), Josh Tongue, Chris Woakes.
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England faces a selection headache for the opening Test against India
Woakes’ experience will be vital for the home side. The right-arm medium pacer has bagged 181 scalps in 57 Tests at an average of 28.24, celebrating five five-wicket hauls. Against the Shubman Gill-led side, he holds a decent record with 23 red-ball wickets at 33.30 in nine games.
Brydon Carse has already impressed the selectors during the five away Tests against Pakistan and New Zealand. The Durham pacer has already collected 27 wickets at an average of below 20. Stokes has used him mostly with the old ball to find reverse swing.
The England captain was fit to bowl 11.2 overs in the four-day Test. In the first innings, he picked up two crucial wickets to put the visitors on the back foot. However, the question remains if he has already gained full fitness to bowl long spells.
The management faces a selection headache between Cook and Tongue. Both looked a bit rusty in finding consistency against Zimbabwe. The Essex pacer returned with 1/119 across two innings while Tongue finished with match-figures of 2/121.
With Woakes confirmed in the starting eleven, it’s unlikely for Cook to feature in the playing eleven at Leeds. Carse and Tongue will bring pace and bounce in the side, while Stokes will be the fourth seamer. Undoubtedly, Bashir is the lone spinner of the side.
If the management wants to strengthen their batting line-up, then they may want to go with Overton, replacing Tongue. However, the all-rounder’s lack of red-ball games of late will be a factor to consider.
Read More: IND vs ENG, Tests, 2025: India’s optimum bowling combination on England tour
“If things go well… He should be available for the second Test.” 👀
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The missing parts of England’s pace bowling puzzle
Gus Atkinson’s absence will be a huge gap in the pace bowling attack. His unavailability has left the seam options depleted. The Chelsea-born made an excellent start in his Test career with 55 wickets in 23 innings at an average of 22.30.
Mark Wood and Olly Stone are out of the series with knee injuries. Meanwhile, Jofra Archer will not be match-fit until the second Edgbaston Test due to a thumb issue. Wright confirmed that the pacer could feature for Sussex against Durham on June 22 in the County fixture to prepare for a possible recall.
Matthew Potts’ absence is unlucky. He warmed the benches during the Zimbabwe contest despite being named in the squads across formats this summer. His haul of 36 wickets in 10 encounters at an average of under 30 plays a key role for the Bazball summer in 2022.
Ollie Robinson is another option to consider for the selectors later in the series. In five FC games this season, he has bagged 18 wickets in nine innings. All of these put India in a great space to start well in the series against a comparatively weak-looking England bowling line-up.
Read More: IND vs ENG, Tests, 2025: India’s opening options on England tour
