England have included pacer Mark Wood to their lineup for the second Test against West Indies at Trent Bridge, commencing on Thursday.
Wood replaces the retired James Anderson, who concluded his illustrious career following England's comprehensive victory in the initial Test at Lord’s.
Wood was absent from the first Test after being included in the England squad for the T20 World Cup in June.
The 34-year-old has secured 108 wickets in 34 Tests and will partner Gus Atkinson in a swift bowling combination, with Chris Woakes as the other dedicated seam bowler.
England XI for second Test: Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (capt) Jamie Smith (wk), Chris Woakes, Gus Atkinson, Mark Wood, Shoaib Bashir.
Matthew Potts and the uncapped Dillon Pennington once again remain sidelined, despite being part of the squad for the first Test at Lord’s. Pennington misses out on the opportunity to make his Test debut at his home ground for Nottinghamshire.
With England leading 1-0, victory at Trent Bridge would secure their first Test series win since their tour of Pakistan in 2022.
Given the packed schedule of the series, it is likely there will be further changes to the pace-bowling attack for the third Test at Edgbaston next week.
Chris Woakes, aged 35, earns his 50th cap and now assumes the role of the team's leading attacker following the retirements of long-term new-ball partners Stuart Broad and James Anderson.
Indeed, this will be England's first home Test without at least one of Anderson or Broad in the side since 2012.
Surrey’s Atkinson, aged 26, recorded match figures of 12-106 at Lord’s, the fourth-best by a bowler on Test debut in cricket history.
West Indies are monitoring the fitness of pace bowler Shamar Joseph, who struggled with a left hamstring injury at Lord’s.
The 24-year-old bowled in the nets at Trent Bridge on Tuesday and is not currently considered a doubt for selection at this stage.
- Mark Wood
