Dawid Malan Called up to England Squad For 3rd Test vs India; Dom Sibley, Zak Crawley Dropped

Sibley has been dropped having managed to pass 35 just once in his last 15 Test innings.

With an aim to boost their batting line-up, England have recalled Dawid Malan to their squad for the third Test against India at Headingley. Malan will be making a comeback to England’s Test side for the first time in three years. The hosts also added pacer Saqib Mahmood to their squad, apart from dropping struggling opener Dom Sibley and Zak Crawley. The third Test between England and India will be played from August 25-29 in Leeds.

Meanwhile, England have kept injured pacer Mark Wood in the 15-man squad, hoping that he will be fit for the third Test. India are leading the five-match series 1-0 after winning the second Test at Lord’s by 151 runs.

Malan is returning to the Test squad for the first time in three years. He last played Test cricket in August 2018 in England’s victory over India at Edgbaston.

“Dawid Malan deserves his opportunity in the Test arena. He has a lot of experience across all formats and, if called upon, I am confident that he can come and do well on his home ground,” England head coach Chris Silverwood said.

England have called up Dawid Malan and Saqib Mahmood for the 3rd Test. Dom Sibley and Zak Crawley have lost their spots.#ENGvIND pic.twitter.com/wwwBNb20HX

100MB (@100MasterBlastr) August 18, 2021

“In the limited time he has played first-class cricket this season, he has shown what he is capable of, scoring a highly accomplished 199 for Yorkshire against Sussex at Headingley in June.”

On Wood, the head coach said, “We are hopeful that Mark Wood will be fit after injuring his right shoulder in the first Test. Our medical team will be working with him each day. We will monitor where he is at when we get to Leeds.”

Saqib Mahmood is yet to make his Test debut. The 24-year-old was named as a reserve during England’s tour of Sri Lanka and India.

Spinner Jack Leach will return to Taunton but remains on standby as back-up to Moeen Ali.

The England Test squad will report to its Leeds base on Sunday.

England Squad: Joe Root (Captain), Moeen Ali, James Anderson, Jonathan Bairstow, Rory Burns, Jos Buttler, Sam Curran, Haseeb Hameed, Dan Lawrence, Saqib Mahmood, Dawid Malan, Craig Overton, Ollie Pope, Ollie Robinson and Mark Wood.