England Reveals Playing XI for First Test Against India

England has officially announced its playing XI for the first Test against India, set to begin on June 20 at Headingley. The team retains most players from their recent match against Zimbabwe, with Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett opening the batting. Ollie Pope, Joe Root, and Harry Brook follow in the order, while Chris Woakes leads the bowling attack. Notably, young talent Jacob Bethell misses out on selection. India's squad is also packed with talent, promising an exciting series ahead.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jun 18, 2025, 21:12 IST

England's Squad Announcement for the Test Series

On Wednesday, England disclosed its lineup for the initial Test of the five-match series against India, set to commence on June 20 at Headingley.

For this opening match, England has largely retained the team that played against Zimbabwe in a recent one-off Test. Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett are set to open the batting, with Ollie Pope positioned at number three.

Crawley and Pope Retain Their Spots

There were rumors suggesting that either Crawley or Pope might be replaced by the promising Jacob Bethell, who impressed during his time in New Zealand last year.

In the previous Test against Zimbabwe, both Crawley and Pope showcased their skills, with Crawley scoring a solid 124 off 171 balls and Pope aggressively reaching 171 off 166 deliveries.

Batting Order and Key Players

With Crawley and Pope's retention, Bethell was unable to secure a spot in the lineup. Following Pope, Joe Root will bat at fourth, with the exciting Harry Brook at number five. Captain Ben Stokes will add depth at six, while wicketkeeper Jamie Smith will provide additional firepower at seven.

Bowling Attack Led by Chris Woakes

Chris Woakes will lead the pace attack, supported by Brydon Carse and Josh Tongue. Shoaib Bashir will be the only frontline spinner in the squad.

In preparation for the Test series, Woakes played for the England Lions, achieving match figures of 5/103, which included dismissals of notable players from India A such as Yashasvi Jaiswal and Abhimanyu Easwaran.

Woakes' Impressive Track Record

At 36, Woakes has been a key player for England in home Tests, earning the Compton-Miller medal during the 2023 Ashes with 19 wickets at an average of 18.15. He also took 24 wickets at an average of 20.25 last summer, stepping up as England's leading pace bowler after the legendary James Anderson.

This match marks Woakes' return since December. Brydon Carse will make his debut on home soil, having previously played five Tests in Pakistan and New Zealand. Gus Atkinson and Sam Cook have been omitted to accommodate their return.

England's Playing XI for the First Test Against India

The selected players are: Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (C), Jamie Smith (WK), Chris Woakes, Brydon Carse, Josh Tongue, and Shoaib Bashir.

India's Squad for the Series

India's team includes: Shubman Gill (C), Rishabh Pant (WK), Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Sai Sudharsan, Abhimanyu Easwaran, Karun Nair, Nitish Reddy, Ravindra Jadeja, Dhruv Jurel (WK), Washington Sundar, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammad Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Akash Deep, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, and Harshit Rana.