England vs India 2018: England Name Playing XI for the Fourth Test

England has named their playing XI for the fourth Test match against India. The hosts bring in 20-year old Sam Curran and Moeen Ali into the final XI.

Subsequently, England has dropped Ollie Pope and Chris Woakes from the playing XI of the third Test match. Furthermore, Jonny Bairstow will hand over the wicketkeeping duties to Jos Buttler. Bairstow had suffered a blow to his hand in the third Test match. The Yorkshire player will also bat at the number four position.

Meanwhile, England had decided to drop Sam Curran who was the hero of the first Test match at Lord’s. It had come as a surprise as Curran scored 87 runs and took four wickets in the opening match at Edgbaston. However, Curran takes the place of the second Test match hero – Chris Woakes who is out due to thigh tissue.

On the other hand, Moeen Ali had scored a double hundred and scalped eight wickets while playing for Worcestershire. Thus, the spinning all-rounder had made a strong case for himself to be included in the playing XI.

England had won the first Test match by 31 runs whereas they dominated the second to win by an innings and 159. However, India was able to bounce back as they won the third by a margin of 203 runs.

Thus, the series is nicely placed at 2-1. Consequently, the hosts will aim to come back stronger after losing the third Test match.

Here is England’s playing XI for the fourth Test match at Ageas Bowl, Southampton.

Alastair Cook, Keaton Jennings, Joe Root (c), Jonny Bairstow, Ben Stokes, Jos Buttler (w), Moeen Ali, Sam Curran, Adil Rashid, Stuart Broad, James Anderson.