LONDON: England National Cricket Selectors have made two changes to the squad for the second Specsavers Test match against India at Lord’s starting on Thursday, August 9.
According to ECB, Surrey middle-order batsman Ollie Pope replaces Middlesex’s Dawid Malan and Warwickshire seamer Chris Woakes returns to the squad in place of Durham’s Ben Stokes, who faces a court hearing this coming week in Bristol.
Pope, the 20-year-old, has been in excellent form for Surrey as they lead the Specsavers County Championship Division One. Since the start of the season, he has scored 684 runs in the Championship, at an average of 85.50, which includes three centuries and a top score of 158 not out. The right-handed batsman has also benefitted from the ECB’s International Pathway. He was a regular in the Young Lions squads during 2016-17 and played for the Lions in their first-class fixture against India A last month where he scored 50 not out in a 253 runs victory at Blackfinch New Road, Worcester.
Commenting on the selection of the squad, National Selector Ed Smith, said:
“Ollie Pope has made an exceptional start to his first-class career. He has reached a 1000 first-class runs in just 15 matches and is the first division’s stand-out batsman this season with 684 runs at 85. The selection panel believes that Ollie’s performances and character suggest he is well suited to international cricket.
“Dawid Malan drops out of the squad for Lord’s. Dawid has not found his best rhythm this season, and it may be that his game is better suited to overseas conditions.
“Ben Stokes is unavailable, but Chris Woakes, with some extra matches and practices under his belt, can now return to the England squad after injury.”
