Chris Woakes is gearing up for a return to action with the England Lions as they face India in a two-match series later this month. This series serves as a crucial test of his fitness ahead of England’s five-Test series against India. Meanwhile, there is a possibility that Ben Stokes might join the team, contingent on his performance in the upcoming Test against Zimbabwe.
Jofra Archer’s return, however, has been delayed due to a thumb injury he picked up during the IPL, ruling him out of the planned second match beginning on 6th June at Wantage Road.
For this two-match, four-day series, England’s selectors have named an initial 15-man squad. Somerset’s James Rew, the supplementary batter in the current Zimbabwe Test squad, is set to lead as captain. The squad is notably robust compared to England’s recent tour matches. It includes several players in consideration for Test selection, such as Essex’s Jordan Cox, who suffered an abdominal strain while hitting a century against Somerset.
Rehan Ahmed, the England legspinner, will make his first appearance alongside his younger brother, Farhan Ahmed, noted for his impressive offspin at Nottinghamshire. Also among the squad is Durham’s Ben McKinney, another former Under-19 player potentially challenging Zak Crawley for a Test opening slot. Josh Hull, the left-arm seamer who debuted in a Test against Sri Lanka last summer, is also listed.
Woakes stands as the most experienced figure in the squad and these matches present a chance for him to reclaim his Test position after an ankle injury. Despite his 36 years, Woakes’ value in English conditions remains considerable, as evidenced by his Compton-Miller medal in the 2023 Ashes and impressive stats from last summer. Sam Cook of Essex currently holds his place in the line-up, with expectations for a debut against Zimbabwe this week.
As for Ben Stokes, his participation in the Lions series will be gauged by his efficiency at Trent Bridge. This Test against Zimbabwe marks his return to competitive cricket following a hamstring injury sustained on the New Zealand tour last December. With a full summer schedule against India and Australia ahead, Stokes is treading carefully.
He stated, “It was a discussion we had, and it will just be how I feel at the end of this, if I feel like I need any more game-time before we head into India. I can’t really say how that’s going to go at the moment because I’ve not played yet, but I’ll see how I get through. Bowling in a game is completely different to bowling and training, but that’ll probably be a late decision depending on how I feel I get through this Test match.”
