England Announces Squad for First India Test

England has announced a 14-man squad for the first Test against India at Headingley, starting June 20, with Jamie Overton returning despite a recent finger injury and being monitored daily. Chris Woakes rejoins the team after recovering from an ankle injury, while Gus Atkinson is ruled out due to a hamstring injury sustained during the Test against Zimbabwe. The squad features a mix of experienced players, including captain Ben Stokes, Joe Root, and Ollie Pope, alongside emerging talents like Jacob Bethell, who returns after IPL duty, and spinner Shoaib Bashir. Pace options are strengthened by the inclusion of Brydon Carse and Josh Tongue, though England continues to face depth issues with Mark Wood, Olly Stone, and Jofra Archer still sidelined. This Test marks the beginning of the new World Test Championship cycle and follows England's previous home series draw against India. England's selection strategy aims to balance aggression with composure as they seek to overcome recent injury setbacks.