England Faces Off Against New Indian Squad in Upcoming Test Series

As England gears up to take on a fresh Indian team in a five-match Test series starting June 20, the spotlight is on key players like Ben Stokes and Chris Woakes, who are on the brink of achieving remarkable milestones. With the absence of Indian stalwarts such as Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, England is seen as the favorite. This series promises to be an exciting clash of cricketing styles and talent, making it a must-watch for fans.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jun 16, 2025, 10:14 IST

Exciting Test Series Ahead

London [UK], June 16: England, known for their aggressive 'Bazball' style under the leadership of Ben Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum, is gearing up for a challenge against a revamped Indian team led by Shubman Gill. The first match of the five-Test series is set to commence on June 20 in Leeds.

With the advantage of playing at home, England is viewed as the favorite, especially with India missing key players like Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Ravichandran Ashwin. The 'Bazball' approach has injected a much-needed boost to their run rate and overall morale. Notably, senior players Ben Stokes and Chris Woakes are on the verge of achieving significant milestones during this series.

Stokes, renowned for his ability to deliver crucial performances, is just 224 runs shy of reaching 11,000 international runs and 272 runs away from 7,000 Test runs. He would become the 11th English player to reach the 11,000-run milestone across all formats, having accumulated 10,776 runs in 268 matches and 334 innings at an average of 35.80, including 18 centuries and 60 fifties, with a top score of 258.

Additionally, Stokes could become the 13th player to achieve 7,000 Test runs for England, currently holding 6,728 runs from 111 Tests in 199 innings at an average of 35.41, with 13 centuries and 35 fifties, also with a best score of 258.

On the other hand, Woakes is tasked with leading a fresh pace attack that includes Josh Tongue, Jamie Overton, and Sam Cook. As the most experienced pacer in the absence of legends like James Anderson and Stuart Broad, he carries a significant responsibility. He is just 19 wickets away from 200 Test wickets and 15 from 400 international wickets.

In his 57 Tests, Woakes has claimed 181 wickets at an average of 28.24, with his best figures being 6/17, along with five five-wicket hauls and one ten-wicket haul. The prospect of reaching 400 international wickets is enticing, as only seven players have accomplished this in the history of English cricket. Across 212 appearances, Woakes has taken 385 wickets at an average of 28.90, with best figures of 6/17, eight five-wicket hauls, and one ten-wicket haul. He ranks as the ninth-highest wicket-taker for England in all formats.

Woakes' impressive home record further strengthens his case, having taken 137 wickets in 34 Tests at an average of 21.59, with best figures of 6/17, five five-wicket hauls, and one ten-wicket haul at home.

The English squad includes: Ben Stokes (Durham) – Captain, Shoaib Bashir (Somerset), Jacob Bethell (Warwickshire), Harry Brook (Yorkshire), Brydon Carse (Durham), Sam Cook (Essex), Zak Crawley (Kent), Ben Duckett (Nottinghamshire), Jamie Overton (Surrey), Ollie Pope (Surrey), Joe Root (Yorkshire), Jamie Smith (Surrey), Josh Tongue (Nottinghamshire), Chris Woakes (Warwickshire).