Twenty-year-old spinner Shoaib Bashir was yesterday named in England’s 16-man squad for the five-Test series against India along with fellow uncapped bowlers Gus Atkinson and Tom Hartley. Bashir only made his first-class debut for Somerset in June but is one of four spinners included for the tour, while vice-captain Ollie Pope and Jack Leach return to the team after injuries.
Fast bowler Atkinson and left-arm spinner Hartley have represented England in white-ball cricket but are yet to play at test level. Ben Stokes will captain the side after undergoing knee surgery following England’s dismal 50-over World Cup campaign.
SQUAD: Ben Stokes (capt), Rehan Ahmed, James Anderson, Gus Atkinson, Jonny Bairstow, Shoaib Bashir, Harry Brook, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ben Foakes, Tom Hartley, Jack Leach, Ollie Pope, Ollie Robinson, Joe Root, Mark Wood — SuperSport.



