Jamie Overton has received a surprise call-up as England on Thursday announced their 14-man squad for the first Test against India. The 31-year-old played the only Test of his career in June 2022 and now returns to replace the injured Gus Atkinson. Meanwhile, Jacob Bethell, Chris Woakes and Brydon Carse are all back in the squad after missing England’s one-off Test against Zimbabwe last month.
Fast bowlers Mark Wood and Jofra Archer are the notable names missing from the squad which will be led by Ben Stokes. Archer was expected to return to Test cricket for the first time in since February 2021 in this series but a thumb injury that he sustained while playing for Rajasthan Royals in the 2025 season of the Indian Premier League has put doubts on that. Archer was supposed to play in England’s recently concluded ODI series against the West Indies and potentially return to red-ball action in the second of England Lions’ unofficial Tests against India A. He ended up having to sit out both matches.
Wood, meanwhile, could return for the final Test of the series if he has a seamless recovering from a surgery on his left knee that was done in March. Bethell had missed the Zimbabwe Test due to his commitments in the IPL. His return poses a potential selection headache for England at the top of the order. While his three half-centuries at No.3 in his debut series in New Zealand put Zak Crawley and Ollie Pope’s under doubt, both went on to score tons against Zimbabwe.
India’s five-Test tour of England starts on June 20 at Headingley after which the second match will be played at Edgbaston from July 2. Lord’s will host the third Test from July 10 after which the fourth Test will be played at Old Trafford from July 23. It is a quick turnover after that with the fifth Test scheduled to be played at the Oval from July 31.
England squad for first Test vs 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.