Following a demoralizing 336-run defeat in the second Test against India at Edgbaston, England has added Surrey fast bowler Gus Atkinson to their squad for the third Test match to be held at Lord's, starting on Thursday, July 10. The series is currently level at 1-1.
The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) announced the selection of the 27-year-old Atkinson shortly after the loss at Edgbaston. Atkinson is returning to the Test squad after recovering from a right hamstring injury he sustained during the match against Zimbabwe at Trent Bridge in May.
England had opted to field an unchanged XI for the second Test. However, with India gaining momentum, the team management may consider new options like Atkinson as they aim to rebound in the third Test. Besides Atkinson, the squad includes Ben Stokes (c), Jofra Archer, Shoaib Bashir, Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook, Brydon Carse, Sam Cook, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Jamie Overton, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Jamie Smith, Josh Tongue, and Chris Woakes. Jofra Archer, who was included in the squad for the second Test, has been retained.