NEWS
Follow UsPacer Mark Wood and all-rounder Chris Woakes have been added to the England squad for the fourth Test against India after regaining full fitness. Mark Wood had hurt his right shoulder while fielding during the second Test at Lord's while Woakes has recovered from the heel injury that has kept him out of international cricket since the ODI series against Pakistan in July.
Woakes played a domestic T20 game on Friday and will be a welcome addition to the squad in the absence of key players such as Ben Stokes and Jofra Archer. "Both of them have come through fine. Wood was bowling yesterday morning. He will be available for selection and Woakes has played so he becomes available again," Silverwood said a day after England's series-leveling win over India at Leeds.
Kent wicketkeeper Sam Billings is added to the squad replacing Jos Buttler, who will miss the Test with his wife expecting their second child. "Jonny Bairstow will take over wicketkeeping duties, which he is relishing. As we all know, he has the skills to seamlessly take over from Jos and the ability to score crucial runs in the middle-order if called upon. Sam Billings, who was in the Test squad for the New Zealand series earlier this summer, returns as reserve keeper. He understands how we want to approach our cricket and is a popular member of the group. He will fit in well with the rest of the group."
Saqib Mahmood returns to Lancashire for their County Championship Division One match against Warwickshire at Emirates Old Trafford starting on Monday. England will train for the first time at the Kia Oval on Tuesday afternoon.
England squad: Joe Root (capt), Moeen Ali, James Anderson, Jonathan Bairstow, Sam Billings, Rory Burns, Sam Curran, Haseeb Hameed, Dan Lawrence, Dawid Malan, Craig Overton, Ollie Pope, Ollie Robinson, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood