A few days prior to the start of the second Test of the three-match series against the West Indies, England announced their playing eleven.
The second Test, which begins on Thursday, July 18, will take place at Trent Bridge, Nottingham. The Three Lions will be looking to win the series after winning the first Test at Lord’s by an innings and 114 runs.
The first Test was the cynosure of the great James Anderson, who was making his final appearance in international cricket. Fans flocked in large numbers to pay tribute to his incredible accomplishments to England Cricket, making his goodbye unforgettable. Before taking three wickets in the second innings, he claimed just one in the first. Mark Wood, a speedster from Durham, has taken the 41-year-old’s place for the second Test. The remaining players are still in the lineup.
Can the West Indies recover from the destruction caused by the Lord?
Kraigg Brathwaite, the skipper of the Caribbean, has his work cut out for him as he must inspire his men to dispel any sense of hopelessness that may have permeated the camp following the crushing defeat at Lord’s.
The visitors don’t have to go too far back to find motivation after their thrilling victory against the formidable Australians in Brisbane earlier this year. Following a ten-wicket loss in the opening Test in Adelaide, Braithwaite and company mounted a valiant comeback to overcome the defending World Test Champions by eight runs.
Also Read: Test cricket’s first two days at Lord’s summed up the format: Nasser Hussain
With a victory in the second Test, however, England will not only win the series but also advance from the bottom of the World Test Championship standings for the 2023–2025 cycle.
England Playing XI for 2nd Test : Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (C), Jamie Smith (WK), Chris Woakes, Gus Atkinson, Mark Wood, Shoaib Bashir