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With the higly-anticipated five-match Test series against India just days away from start, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) have called up England Lions player, Eddie Jack. With the home side struggling with the fitness of their pace attack with the series set to commence from June 20, there continues to remain doubt over Josh Tongue’s availability.
It is to be noted that England is missing key pacer in Jofra Archer for the first Test, right-arm pacer Mark Wood has also been ruled out of the entire English summer. Gus Atkinson is also recovering from a hamstring injury, which he sustained in one-off Test against Zimbabwe. With this, Josh Tongue adds to the injury list after he suffered an injury during the England Lions match against India A recently.
England call up Eddie Jack as cover of injured Josh Tongue
With struggles already mounting on the home side, they have called upon 19-year-old pacer Eddie Jack as cover of injured Josh Tongue. It is to be noted that Jack has played only two first-class matches, both of which have come recently against the India A side. With the bat, Jack has scored 41 runs at an average of 20.50, however, he has picked four wickets across the four innings of First-Class cricket.
Seeing the current circumstances, England might go with the likes of Chris Woakes, Brydon Carse and Sam Cook as frontline pacers along with skipper Ben Stokes assisting with his medium pace.
England’s squad for home Test series against India
Shoaib Bashir, Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook, Brydon Carse, Sam Cook, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Jamie Overton, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Jamie Smith (wk), Ben Stokes (capt), Josh Tongue, Chris Woakes.
