England is all set to play their first day-night Test match against West Indies to be played at Edgbaston from August 17. The 30-year-old opening batsman from Surrey, Mark Stoneman will make his debut for the England test team after he was picked by the England selectors replacing Keaton Jennings. Mason Crane, the 20-year-old leg spinner from Hampshire also made it into the squad.
The Chairman of selectors James Whitaker on asked about Jennings said, “Keaton Jennings will return to Durham and will look to recapture the form that earned him selection in the first place. I am sure he will find his confidence and look to score runs in the remaining matches of this season,” However, despite scoring only 35 runs in the last four innings Dawid Malan retained his place in the squad.
Stoneman has been in great knock after he moved to Surrey from Durham scoring 1033 runs at an average of 57.38 with the highest score of 197. “The dream was always alive; it”s what gets you up on a winter”s morning when you have to get to the gym to put the work in, Stoneman said after getting his maiden national call. He is all set to become Alastair Cook’s 12th opening partner since the retirement of Andrew Strauss.
Chris Woakes also made a comeback after missing out the Champions Trophy and the series against South Africa due to a side strain. England pacer Steve Finn makes way for the all-rounder who gave a hint of coming back to form taking five wickets and scoring a half-century for his county side last week.
“On behalf of the selectors, I would like to wish Joe Root, Trevor Bayliss and all the squad the very best for what will be an exciting series against West Indies,” Whitaker conclude.
Full Squad- Alastair Cook, Mark Stoneman, Joe Root, Tom Westley, Dawid Malan, Ben Stokes, Jonny Bairstow, Moeen Ali, James Anderson, Stuart Broad, Mason Crane, Toby Roland-Jones, Chris Woakes