Follow UsEngland’s tearaway quick Gus Atkinson has recovered from a hamstring injury and has been added to the squad for the third Test against India at Lord’s, starting on July 10 (Thursday). Atkinson is likely to feature in the playing XI alongside Jofra Archer, who was part of the England squad for the second Test but didn’t get a game.
Chris Woakes (82 overs), Brydon Carse (77), and Josh Tongue (81) have featured in both of the first two Tests, and there is a strong possibility that at least two of them will be rested for the upcoming encounter. Apart from the aforementioned names, Sam Cook and Jamie Overton are also part of the England set-up.
"It's no secret that we have spent some time in the field and bowled some overs in the first two games, and we'll have to see how everyone pulls up over the next two days. With it being a quick turnaround, there probably will be a decision we have to make given how everyone does pull up after this game,” said England captain Ben Stokes, after India won the second Test by 336 runs to level the series 1-1.
Archer, who last played a Test in February 2021, recently featured in a first-class match for Sussex in June. Atkinson, meanwhile, has been out of action since sustaining an injury in May. The 26-year-old has been sensational for England since making his Test debut in July 2024, having taken 55 wickets in 12 games at an impressive average of 22.3.
"We'll let this one settle, and when we get to (Lord's) we'll have a good think about it. Jofra is fit and ready to go. Obviously the other boys have had two Test matches on the spin now, so you'd anticipate you would make a change at some stage with the line-up, and Jofra is one we'll look at," England head coach Brendon McCullum told the BBC's Test Match Special.