England have decided to stick with the same playing XI for the second Test against India at Edgbaston, even though fast bowler Jofra Archer missed Monday's training session because of a personal issue.
Archer, recently named in the Test team for the current five-match series, will return to the team on Tuesday, a day before the second Test is set to kick off. The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) made the confirmation in a short statement on Monday.
"England men's fast bowler Jofra Archer will not be part of the England Test team at today's training session at Edgbaston, Monday 30 June, because of a family crisis. He will return to join the squad tomorrow, Tuesday," said the ECB.
Even though Archer was in the running to play after joining the team last week, he will now have to wait even longer for a possible return. The pacer, who has long suffered from recurrent elbow injuries, last played a Test match more than four years ago—against India in Ahmedabad.
In spite of his absence, England have supported the same team that had won by five wickets in the series opener at Headingley, with which they had taken the lead 1-0.
The second Test is scheduled to start on Wednesday at Edgbaston.
England's Playing XI for the Second Test:
- Ben Stokes (skipper)
- Zak Crawley
- Ben Duckett
- Ollie Pope
- Joe Root
- Harry Brook
- Jamie Smith (wicketkeeper)
- Chris Woakes
- Brydon Carse
- Josh Tongue
- Shoaib Bashir
