Fast bowler Saqib Mahmood will make his test debut against West Indies in Barbados, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) said on Tuesday (March 15), after Mark Wood was ruled out of the second test with a right elbow injury. Mahmood, 25, has played seven one-day internationals and 12 Twenty20s, and was named in the 12-man squad for the opening test in Antigua but did not make the final team.
“He’s very mature for a guy who hasn’t played a huge amount of international cricket and he has an understanding of how he wants to operate,” England captain Joe Root told British media. “He’s been very impressive. He’s got a slightly different trajectory and will give us a point of difference. He has done that when he’s played in other formats... He’s a great option to have up our sleeve.”
A first appearance from Mahmood will be the only change to the England team as seamer Ollie Robinson continues to be sidelined after missing the drawn first test due to a back injury. The second Test begins on Wednesday before the series concludes in Grenada from March 24-28.
Venue: Kensington Oval, Bridgetown, Barbados
Date & Time: March 16th to 20th, 7.30 PM IST onwards
Live Stream: Fancode
Wicket-keeper: Ben Foakes
Batters: Kraigg Brathwaite, Joe Root, Jerome Blackwood, Zak Crawley
All-rounders: Chris Woakes, Ben Stokes, Jason Holder
Bowlers: Veeraswamy Permaul, Saqib Mahmood, Alzarri Joseph
Captain: Ben Stokes
Vice-Captain: Joe Root
West Indies: Kraigg Brathwaite (c), John Campbell, Shamarh Brooks, Nkrumah Bonner, Jermaine Blackwood, Jason Holder, Joshua Da Silva (wk), Kemar Roach, Alzarri Joseph, Veerasammy Permaul, Jayden Seales
England: Alex Lees, Zak Crawley, Joe Root (c), Daniel Lawrence, Ben Stokes, Jonny Bairstow, Ben Foakes (wk), Chris Woakes, Craig Overton, Saqib Mahmood, Jack Leach