England announced its playing XI for the third Ashes Test match against Australia and the Ben Stokes-led side has dropped veteran pacer James Anderson in one of three changes.
Trailing 2-0, England has to win the third Test, starting July 6 at Headingley, to stay in contention in the five-match series.
England Playing XI for Third Test
Along with Anderson, fellow paceman Josh Tongue have been “rested”, according to a statement released by England on Wednesday. Mark Wood and seam-bowling all-rounder Chris Woakes come into the side replacing Anderson and Tongue.
Spin-bowling all-rounder Mooen Ali has been recalled into the side as England aims to keep the Ashes alive after Australia inflicted a 43-run defeat at Lord’s last week in a Test match that was marred with controversies.
Ali replaces Ollie Pope after the vice-captain was ruled out of the rest of the season due to dislocating his shoulder at Lord’s. Harry Brook has now been promoted up the order to take Pope’s place at No 3.
Anderson’s 688 wickets are the most taken by any fast bowler in Test history but the swing specialist has struggled in this series so far, with just three wickets at more than 75 apiece.
Tongue made his test debut against Ireland last month where he impressed with a five-wicket haul in the second innings and made his Ashes debut at Lord’s, where he took five wickets in two innings.
England captain Stokes’s stunning 155 gave his side hope of an improbable win at Lord’s following the disputed stumping of Jonny Bairstow, given out when he thought the ball was dead.
But all-rounder Stokes, who has been struggling with a longstanding knee problem, bowled just 15 overs across two innings at Lord’s and he said his fitness had been a factor in England’s team selection for Headingley.
“I’m not going to lie, last week sort of took it out of me a little bit,” Stokes told reporters on Wednesday. “So a big part of something that I had to think of was what would be the best team if I wasn’t to bowl a ball this game, in the worst-case scenario.
“It doesn’t mean I’m not going to bowl but that was a huge part of the thinking about the team that we picked.”
On the omission of Anderson, the England skipper said: “It’s a good chance for Jimmy to have a rest up and then get ready to charge in from the Jimmy Anderson end at Old Trafford next week.”
“It’s great to have Woody fit, he’s firing and ready to go this week.”
(Inputs AFP)
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