Stokes, Archer rested for Sri Lanka Tests

The pair will miss the two Tests in Galle and will be expected to join the squad across the Palk Straight ahead of the four-Test series against India in early February

Jofra Archer and Ben Stokes have been rested from a strong Test squad to face Sri Lanka as England look to minimise bubble time for the two multi-format specialists ahead of the back-to-back winter assignments in the sub-continent. The pair will miss the two Tests in Galle and will be expected to join the squad across the Palk Strait ahead of the four-Test series against India in early February.

The 16-member squad sees a recall for Jonny Bairstow, the Yorkshireman who has played 70 Tests for England but none since December 2019. The 31-year-old averaged only 18.55 in 10 Tests in 2019 and passed fifty just twice during a surprising loss of red-ball form – but did hit a century in Sri Lanka in late 2018 while playing as a specialist batsman.

His recall is predicated on the fact that Ollie Pope is out with a shoulder injury while Rory Burns has been granted paternity leave. Pope, though, will travel to Sri Lanka where he’ll continue his rehabilitation with a view to getting ready for the India Tests that follow.

Bairstow’s return to the England whites was all but confirmed when he withdrew from his Big Bash League stint with the Melbourne Stars. Meanwhile, Ben Foakes has been picked as a back-up gloveman. The 27-year-old famously hit a century on debut at Galle during England’s 3-0 sweep of the series in 2018 but hasn’t played a game since Antigua, 2019.

James Anderson and Stuart Broad lead the seam-bowling contingent that also features Mark Wood, Chris Woakes Sam Curran and Olly Stone. There is no return to Test cricket for Adil Rashid who took 12 wickets during England’s series win last time around with Moeen Ali, who has been forthcoming about his desire to play Test cricket, given the nod alongside Jack Leach and incumbed offie Dom Bess.

The two Tests, both of which will be played behind closed doors at Galle, will start on January 14 and 22 respectively. England will leave for Hambantota from London on January 2 and will train at the Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium between January 5-9. They’ll depart Sri Lanka on January 27 with the India series starting in Chennai on February 4.

England squad:

Joe Root (capt), Moeen Ali, James Anderson, Jonny Bairstow, Dom Bess, Stuart Broad, Jos Buttler, Zak Crawley, Sam Curran, Ben Foakes (wk), Dan Lawrence, Jack Leach, Dom Sibley, Olly Stone, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood.

Reserves:

James Bracey (wk), Mason Crane, Saqib Mahmood, Craig Overton, Matthew Parkinson, Ollie Robinson, Amar Virdi.

(Cricbuzz)