Anderson returns as England name XI for India Test

England named lead pacer James Anderson in their playing XI for the rescheduled Test against India in Birmingham starting on Friday. Wicketkeeper Ben Foakes, who tested positive for COVID-19 during the third and final Test against New Zealand, has been replaced by Sam Billings.

Allrounder Jamie Overton made his debut in the third Test as he replaced Anderson, who suffered an ankle niggle. Overton scored an impressive 97 and claimed two wickets in the match.

England captain Ben Stokes revealed that Foakes has not fully recovered after testing positive for the virus on the third day of the Test.

"Unfortunately Foakesy has not recovered as well as we'd have liked to. Sam is going to stay in the team and be our keeper," Stokes said in an official release.

India are sweating over the situation of captain Rohit Sharma who tested positive for COVID-19 ahead of the series. Head coach Rahul Dravid has remained coy over Rohit's inclusion in the final XI and did not reveal if Jasprit Bumrah will captain the side.

England are coming off a superb series against New Zealand which they won by 3-0. Stokes said that his team is confident going up against India, who are leading the series from last year 2-1.

The Test, which was originally scheduled to be played as the fifth and final match of the series in September last year, was abandoned due to COVID-19 outbreak within the Indian camp.

"India are obviously a completely different opposition, a different dynamic of team, but we are concentrating on ourselves. We understand what we do well, but we have also take into account who we're playing against. Just because the opposition changes doesn't mean that we're going to change," Stokes said.

Stokes said that the current squad will be given more time to prove themselves.

"This team, and this squad, is going to be given a lot of time to perform. Zak Crawley is still in my plans, and Brendon's plans going forward, to make this Test team great again," he said.

England Playing XI: Alex Lees, Zak Crawley, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Jonny Bairstow, Ben Stokes (C), Sam Billings, Matthew Potts, Stuart Broad, Jack Leach, James Anderson.