London:
England have announced a 16-member unchanged squad for the five-Test series against India with fast bowler James Anderson set to miss the start of the team’s tour after failing to recover from a shoulder injury.
The squad is the same as the one currently touring Bangladesh. Anderson, who was forced to miss England’s ongoing series in Bangladesh, has already been ruled out of next month’s opening Test in Rajkot, starting on November 9.
But the 34-year-old pacer, who has taken a record 473 Test wickets for England, could join the squad for the remaining four Test matches against India.
“It is hoped he will still play some part in the series in India,” England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) said in a statement.
England will also be without paceman Mark Wood due to an ankle injury, but ECB chose not to draft in another seamer.
Stuart Broad, Chris Woakes, Ben Stokes, Steven Finn and Jake Ball will be the pace bowlers in the squad, with Moeen Ali, Adil Rashid, Gareth Batty and Zafar Ansari handling the spin department.
The first Test at Rajkot will be followed by matches at Visakhapatnam, Mohali, Mumbai and Chennai.
Squad: Alastair Cook (captain), Moeen Ali, Zafar Ansari, Jonny Bairstow, Jake Ball, Gary Ballance, Gareth Batty, Stuart Broad, Jos Buttler, Ben Duckett, Steven Finn, Haseeb Hameed, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Ben Stokes, Chris Woakes.
