Predicted England Playing XI for 2nd India Test: Jofra Archer to replace Josh Tongue at Edgbaston?

England has a head start. Despite the unavailability of pacers like Gus Atkinson, Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Mark Wood, and Olly Stone, the Three Lions are 1-0 ahead in the 5-match Test series against India. Now, one of the pacers is available for selection.

Right time to pick Jofra Archer

Archer played a first-class match after 4 years. After bowling just 18 overs for Surrey, England feels he’s ready. The express pacer is part of the squad for the second Test. Everyone knows what Archer brings to the table. The question remains: Is it right to throw him in or not?

But if England were indeed worried about his fitness, they wouldn’t have added Archer to the squad. Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum would have rather had him play a couple of games for Surrey in the County Championship if that were the case. But he’s been selected.

And you can’t leave him out. For two reasons. One because he’s perhaps the best bowler they have. He may not have the reps in Test cricket but in potential, no one comes close to him. The second is perhaps more important. England have already won one Test without Archer against India and will back themselves to win the series.

However, they will want to test Archer, keeping the Ashes in mind. Later this year, they’ll tour Australia. Before doing so, England will want to test his fitness. Whether he’ll be able to withstand the grind of red-ball cricket once again. And this is the best time to do it since this will be England’s last Test series before the Ashes.

Who to drop?

If Archer comes, someone has to go out. England won’t drop Shoaib Bashir, as he’s their lone spinner and someone who bowled the most overs for them, 49, in Headingley. Brydon Carse may have gotten just 4 wickets, but he was their sharpest pacer alongside Stokes.

Chris Woakes was nowhere near his best. Took only 1 wicket. But scored a crucial 38-run knock in the first innings to ensure the deficit was just 6. As the India vs England Test series goes on, Woakes will get only better. He’s the most experienced pacer they have and having him at number 8 gives England the assurance of valuable lower-order runs.

The only bowler left is Josh Tongue. He took the most wickets in the first Test, 7. But only two of them were among the top six batters. He cleans up the tail, but what if they aren’t able to claim the wickets of the best batters? And it’s not like Carse or Archer can’t rattle the tailenders. So, unfortunately, it’ll be Tongue who goes out for Archer.