India vs England 2021, 2nd Test: England’s Predicted XI
Published - 12 Feb 2021, 05:12 PM | Updated - 23 Aug 2024, 12:40 AM
Table of Contents
The visitors England are now ready for the second game of the four-match Test series against the hosts India, which will be played once again at MA Chidambaram Stadium (Chepauk, Chennai) from Saturday (13th February).
The visiting team is currently leading this Test series by the 1-0 margin after their impressive victory by 227 runs in the opening Test of this series. But they still have to win at least two more Tests to qualify for the final of the inaugural ICC World Test Championship.
India vs England 2021, 2nd Test: England???s Predicted XI
Rory Burns
England opener Rory Burns provided a good start in the first innings of the last Test match but he was dismissed for 33 runs. In the second innings, he was dismissed for a duck. While the England team is testing their Test playing XIs, Burns must have to perform well in this upcoming second Test.
Dominic Sibley
In this Asian tour, England opener Dominic Sibley scored two fifties in the last three innings. Though he started the Sri Lanka tour with 4, 2 and 0, then he scored 56 not out along with 87 and 16 in the Chennai Test. His good start can lift the visitors to the strong position in this tour.
Dan Lawrence
Though Dan Lawrence started this Asian tour with his 73 and 21 not out knocks on his debutant Test against Sri Lanka at Galle, he then scored 3, 2, 0 and 18 runs respectively. Once again, the 23-year-old needs to prove himself in this tough Asian condition.
Joe Root (C)
Ben Stokes
All-rounder Ben Stokes is a big name in this England cricket team. During the first innings of the last Chennai Test, Stokes played the crucial knock of 82 runs. While he scored 7 runs in the next innings, he took his only wicket of that Test match by dismissing Indian captain Virat Kohli for 72 runs.
Ollie Pope
Coming to bat in the middle-order during the previous Chennai Test, Ollie Pope played crucial supporting roles in both the innings as he scored 34 and 28 runs respectively. The youngster has the ability to play big scores and he also wants to show this form quickly.
Ben Foakes (wk)
Wicket-keeper batsman Ben Foakes made his great Test debut during England’s tour of Sri Lanka in 2018, where he won the Player of the Series award for finishing as the highest run-scorer. Then he played only two more Tests during their Caribbean tour in early 2019. As England have the big fight for the Test wicket-keeper spot, Foakes needs to utilise this upcoming opportunity in strong way.
Moeen Ali
The all-rounder Moeen Ali is set to return to the Test side, who last played a Test match in August 2019 (against Australia at Birmingham). For the upcoming Chennai Test match, Moeen is likely to replace Dom Bess. The team management is looking for his fresh start in Test cricket while Moeen can be confident due to his IPL experiences in India.
Chris Woakes
The 31-year-old pace-bowling all-rounder Chris Woakes is ready to return in the Test squad. While Jofra Archer will miss the second Test of this series due to elbow injury, Woakes is likely to replace him. There is no doubt that he can play crucial roles both with the bat and ball.
Stuart Broad
The experienced pacer Stuart Broad is set to replace James Anderson for the upcoming Chennai Test. Broad has huge experience in international cricket and the team management wants the best from him. In the previous tour in Sri Lanka, Broad played one Test where he got three wickets in the first innings (3/20).
Jack Leach
The left-arm spinner Jack Leach once again impressed in the previous Test match. Despite Rishabh Pant smashed him brutally during their first innings, Leach didn’t lose confidence and he became the visitors’ best bowler in the fourth innings by finishing with the bowling figures of 26-4-76-4.
