England make one change for fifth India Test with Ollie Robinson missing out

GEORGE DOBELL: England have retained the same balance in their attack as the previous game despite the cool conditions in Dharamsala. Mark Wood returns to the XI

George Dobell | 06/03/2024 at 08:10

England have replaced Ollie Robinson with Mark Wood in their team for the fifth Test against India.

England - 1-3 down in the series with one to play - have retained the same balance in their attack as the previous game despite cool conditions in Dharamsala which saw them consider playing an extra seamer.

Explaining England's thought process, captain Ben Stokes said: "It looks like a wicket that could have a bit of pace and carry in it. Having a fresh Mark Wood on a wicket that you feel is going to offer some pace - it's something that's been consistent whenever we've gone with two seamers. Looking at having a bowler like Jimmy [Anderson] but wanting to have some pace and firepower to break the game open.

"With having two spinners, it allows us to play either conditions at different times throughout the Test."

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^{Wood featured in the first and third Tests [Gareth Copley/Getty Images]}

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^{Wood replaces Ollie Robinson [Gareth Copley/Getty Images]}

Wood, who played in the first and third Tests, returns having been rested in Ranchi after looking exhausted by the end of the previous game. He replaces Robinson who finished wicketless after an underwhelming performance with the ball in the fourth Test. It later transpired he had sustained a back injury while batting - he made an accomplished half-century - in England's first innings.

Robinson's fitness may well have been a factor in selection. While he was able to train on Tuesday, he and Shoaib Bashir missed training on Wednesday due to illness. Bashir, however, is included despite also suffering from a finger injury due to his high bowling workload in the previous Test.

"You don't want to put anybody at risk so we've decided to keep them away from the team," Stokes explained. "It's the sensible thing to do. When you've got so many people contained in the same space all the time, you want to limit the chance of it spreading.

"I don't think it's anything to be too concerned about. [Bashir and Robinson] woke up with slightly upset stomachs.

"If that's the case [that Bashir is too ill to play], we'll have to consider what we think is best. I've not thought too far ahead. It's not a major issue. We just wanted to safeguard against anything spreading to someone else."

The selection confirms that Jonny Bairstow, whose partner, son, mother and sister have traveled to the game, will gain his 100th Test cap.

James Anderson goes into the game on the brink of a couple of milestones, too. For one thing, this will be his 400th international appearance for England (he has currently played 186 Tests, 194 ODIs and 19 IT20s), for another he has 698 Test wickets.

Stokes, who could well return to bowling for the first time since the Ashes Test at Lord's following knee surgery, requires three wickets to reach 200 in Tests.

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^{James Anderson will make his 400th international appearance during the fifth Test [Gareth Copley/Getty Images]}

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^{Jonny Bairstow will earn his 100th Test cap in Dharamsala [Gareth Copley/Getty Images]}

"It's phenomenal to think about, especially as a seam bowler," Stokes said, paying tribute to Anderson. "An amazing career to date, and I can't see him stopping.

"I've played with Jimmy for a long time, and I've never seen him as physically fit as he looks right now. Being 41, showing that hunger and desire to get better every single day is a testament to his attitude and commitment to the game."

The surface looks flat and, initially at least, good for batting. England expect it to provide more assistance for spinners as the match progresses.

Meanwhile, several members of the England tour party visited the Dalai Lama at his McLeod Ganj home. The players who attended were Gus Atkinson, Bairstow, Zak Crawley, Tom Hartley, Dan Lawrence, and Ollie Pope.

England XI: Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Jonny Bairstow, Ben Stokes (c), Ben Foakes, Tom Hartley, Mark Wood, James Anderson, Shoaib Bashir

The Cricketer's chief correspondent George Dobell will be providing a full preview ahead of the fifth Test in Dharamsala.

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