Zak Crawley and Jofra Archer back in training after missing second Test

Crawley missed both matches in Chennai after slipping on a marble floor and injuring his wrist, while Archer was ruled out of England’s series-levelling defeat in the second game after experiencing discomfort in his right elbow

England are hopeful that Zak Crawley and Jofra Archer will be available for selection for the third Test against India in Ahmedabad.

Crawley missed both matches in Chennai after slipping on a marble floor and injuring his wrist.

Archer was ruled out of England’s series-levelling defeat in the second game after experiencing discomfort in his right elbow while bowling during the first Test.

Both are on the mend, however, said head coach Chris Silverwood, who hinted that further rotation of his resources was likely for the pink-ball day-night Test in Ahmedabad.

“Jofra bowled today – he was down in the nets today,” he explained. “Zak has been hitting cricket balls throughout the last Test match as well, so we’re hoping the two of them will be able to throw their hat in the ring.

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“We’ll know more when we get to Ahmedabad and we start training there back in the nets.”

Jonny Bairstow and Mark Wood will also be back with the squad, having completed their rest periods in England, which saw the pair miss the first two Tests.

Moeen Ali will be unavailable, meanwhile, as he returns home for his prearranged block of rest.

Olly Stone and Dan Lawrence both benefited from the absences of Archer and Crawley. England will wait to see the pitch in Ahmedabad before making any snap decisions around their selection for the third Test.

Silverwood suggested that the pink ball had swung when his bowlers practised with it in training, which would perhaps raise the option of playing a third specialist seamer alongside a solitary spinner.