Sir alastair cook

Skipper Ben Stokes: Uncapped spinners Tom Hartley and Shoaib Bashir have been named in England’s 16-member squad for a five-match Test tour of India starting next month. The off-spin duo joined fast-bowler Gus Atkinson as the three uncapped players at the Test level, though he and Hartley have been capped in white-ball cricket.

Skipper Ben Stokes has been included in the squad, though the all-rounder underwent surgery on his left knee last month. Ben Foakes also returns after being dropped for the Ashes this year, while Jack Leach and Ollie Pope are back after recovering from back and shoulder injuries.

Teenage leg-spinner Rehan Ahmed returns to the Test squad after claiming a five-wicket haul on his debut in Pakistan last year. He will be amongst the front-line spin options alongside Bashir, Leach and Hartley.