Sam Billings and James Anderson named in England XI for India Test

Billings was called up as a Covid replacement during the victory over New Zealand at Headingley, following Foakes's positive test, and he will keep hold of the gloves at Edgbaston

Sam Billings will keep wicket for England in the Test match against India at Emirates Old Trafford after Ben Foakes failed to make a full recovery from a stiff back and Covid-19.

Billings was called up as a Covid replacement during the victory over New Zealand at Headingley, following Foakes's positive test, and he will keep hold of the gloves at Edgbaston.

Foakes will have to wait until August, and the Tests against South Africa, for his next appearance in England colours. England, meanwhile, opted against replacing Foakes with a specialist batsman - Harry Brook - and giving Jonny Bairstow the duties behind the stumps.

^{Sam Billings will keep wicket against India at Edgbaston [Getty Images]}

Captain Ben Stokes said: "Ben Foakes is our keeper going forward. We want Jonny Bairstow to concentrate on doing what he's doing with the bat."

Meanwhile, Jamie Overton drops out of the side in place of Anderson.

Anderson - England's all-time record wicket-taker - missed the final game against New Zealand with a minor injury. 

In his absence, Overton played a crucial role with the bat, making 97 as England recovered from 55 for 6 in their first innings.

Stokes said of the Surrey allrounder's performance: "Jamie got his opportunity to show what he can do. He gave the best account possible.

"We see a bright future for him with England going forward. He can walk away knowing he's done everything possible to have a good career for England."

Zak Crawley keeps his spot in the side despite a meagre run of scores at the top of the order. Stokes offered the Kent batsman encouragement, saying he is part of his plans to make England's Test team "great again".

^{James Anderson comes back into the England side [Getty Images]}

"This team is going to be given a lot of time to perform," the skipper said. "Zak is still in my plans to make this test team great again regardless of what happens here."

England's new aggressive style, particularly with the bat, has brought plenty of attention during the first four weeks of new head coach Brendon McCullum's tenure.

India will present a different prospect to New Zealand, albeit potentially without both of their regular openers in the shape of captain Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul, but Stokes insists nothing will change when it comes to his team's mindset.

"If there's a team that can be more attacking it's us," he said. "We just beat the best team in the world 3-0.

"What we did over the last three weeks is reshape the way Test cricket is played. We want people to enjoy watching us play."

England team vs India: Alex Lees, Zak Crawley, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Jonny Bairstow, Ben Stokes, Sam Billings, Matt Potts, Stuart Broad, Jack Leach, James Anderson

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