England vs West Indies, 1st Test: ENG Playing XI Announced, Two Debutants

England has announced their playing XI for the first Test against the West Indies, set to commence on July 10 at Lord’s. Notably, Gus Atkinson and Jamie Smith will be making their Test debuts in what will also be James Anderson’s final match for England.

Atkinson, who has previously represented England in white-ball cricket, and Smith, with two matches in the 50-over format under his belt, have been given the nod ahead of seasoned players Jonny Bairstow and Ben Foakes. The latter struggled during England’s series loss to India. Additionally, Harry Brook, who missed the India series due to personal reasons, makes a welcome return to the squad.

Young spinner Shoaib Bashir, who impressed during the India tour, will be making his debut on English soil. Chris Woakes, a key player during last year’s Ashes, is back in the team for the first time since the series against Australia. The pace attack will be spearheaded by Anderson as he bids farewell to his illustrious international career.

England’s Playing XI for 1st Test against West Indies

Zak Crawley
Ben Duckett
Ollie Pope
Joe Root
Harry Brook
Ben Stokes (C)
Jamie Smith (wk)
Chris Woakes
Gus Atkinson
Shoaib Bashir
James Anderson

The selection of Atkinson and Smith indicates a focus on nurturing young talent while maintaining a balance of experience and skill. As England takes the field for this pivotal match, all eyes will be on Anderson, who will be looking to end his career on a high note.

The upcoming Test series against the West Indies promises to be a thrilling contest, with England keen to put on a strong performance at Lord’s.

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