Sam Curran returns to England side for second Test against Pakistan as Jofra Archer rested
England rested Jofra Archer as one of two changes to their XI for the Second Test against Pakistan, who chose to bat upon winning the toss.
England left it very late to decide which side to pick as they weighed up the fitness of their fast bowlers.
Sam Curran, who has been on the winning side in all eight Test matches he has played, came in for Archer, meaning England went in without an express pace option.
Mark Wood has been carrying a “knock” this week, according to Joe Root, but the nature of the issue has remained a mystery. Root confirmed he was available and that Curran’s selection was in part down to his batting. Sussex’s Ollie Robinson was made to wait for his Test debut, too.
“He [Wood] was available and bowled well yesterday,” said Root. “We wanted to lengthen our batting and Sam has performed brilliantly down the order in the past. It gives us more depth in that department and gives Woody another week to make sure he’s ready.”
James Anderson was retained, as were Stuart Broad and Chris Woakes, who have played three Tests in a row. Woakes, man of the match in the opening win at Emirates Old Trafford, has been particularly stiff this week but his role balancing the side in Ben Stokes’ absence meant he had to play.
England speak about planning for the next Ashes and the balance of attack they will need there. With four bowlers who very rarely touch 90mph, this is not an attack England would want to take to Brisbane next year, but were they to win this week, they could select Archer and Wood in the same side for just the second time in next Friday’s Third Test.
Stokes dropped out of the XI in the other change. He is heading back to New Zealand to be with his unwell father, with Zak Crawley coming into the XI at No3.
Pakistan made a change of their own, bringing in 34-year-old batsman Fawad Alam for his first Test in 11 years. Shadab Khan, the legspinning all-rounder, drops out, leaving Pakistan with just four frontline bowling options.
Some rain is forecast this week, and conditions were muggy and hazy this morning, with Root optimistic the ball would swing.
