The first Test between England and India will be held at Headingley in Leeds. England’s Cricket Team has announced their playing XI for the opening Test against India, scheduled to begin on Friday, 20th June at Headingley.
England have retained their successful opening pair of Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett for the match. This duo has proven their worth in Test cricket and will be eager to set a strong foundation at the start of the five-match series.
Vice-captain Ollie Pope will bat at number three, followed by Joe Root at four and Harry Brook at five. This trio has been pivotal to England’s recent success and will be key players to watch in the contest against India.
Captain Ben Stokes is positioned at number six, expected to contribute significantly with both bat and ball. Jamie Smith, batting at seven, will take on the role of wicketkeeper. Notably, Jacob Bethell, who many anticipated as a first-choice pick, has been left out of the squad.
Chris Woakes makes a return to the side after a long absence and will look to make an immediate impact. He will lead the pace attack alongside Brydon Carse and Josh Tongue, carrying the responsibility of experience with the ball. Shoaib Bashir has been selected as the team’s specialist spinner.
England playing XI for the first test against India
| No. | Player | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Zak Crawley | Opening Batsman |
| 2 | Ben Duckett | Opening Batsman |
| 3 | Ollie Pope | Batter (No. 3) |
| 4 | Joe Root | Batter (No. 4) |
| 5 | Harry Brook | Batter (No. 5) |
| 6 | Ben Stokes (c) | Captain, All-rounder |
| 7 | Jamie Smith (wk) | Wicketkeeper, Batter |
| 8 | Chris Woakes | Fast Bowler |
| 9 | Brydon Carse | Fast Bowler |
| 10 | Josh Tongue | Fast Bowler |
| 11 | Shoaib Bashir | Spin Bowler |
England will enter the Test following a commanding victory over Zimbabwe in the one-off match. This series between England and India will also mark the first contest for both teams in the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2025-27.
