England include Bethell and Overton in first India Test squad

The most likely members of the Leeds XI will be Woakes, Carse, and Tongue. Even if all the seamers were fit, all three would still have legitimate claims to be in England’s first-choice team.

Josh Hull and Sonny Baker, both of whom have heel and ankle issues, have been injured, further reducing England’s fast-bowling reserves. Both players have withdrawn from England Lions’ second four-day encounter with India A, which is scheduled to begin on Friday.

Before the end of this month, he wants to represent Sussex in the County Championship.

Bethell, a Warwickshire batsman, made half-centuries in each of the three Test matches before Christmas, batting at number three in each.

England were spared the option of including him in their team and reverted to their established top seven after he missed the Test against Zimbabwe. Ollie Pope, who occupies the top three spot in Bethell’s absence, turned in a sublime century.

Stokes later clarified that the left-hander would merely return to the squad after the initial suggestion that Bethell would play right back in the starting lineup for the India series before the Zimbabwe Test. Stokes added that his statements were “twisted to fit an agenda.”

Bethell has since made an impressive 82 in the first ODI against West Indies, which has increased her impact in England’s one-day squad.