Mark Wood Returns as England Faces West Indies in Second Test

Mark Wood has been recalled to the England lineup for the second Test against West Indies at Trent Bridge, replacing the retired James Anderson. Wood, who missed the first Test due to his involvement in the T20 World Cup, returns to the squad to bolster England’s pace attack alongside Gus Atkinson and Chris Woakes. The English XI for the second Test includes Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (captain), Jamie Smith (wicketkeeper), Chris Woakes, Gus Atkinson, Mark Wood and Shoaib Bashir.

Matthew Potts and Dillon Pennington remain out of the playing XI despite being part of the squad for the first Test with Pennington missing a chance for a Test debut at his home ground in Nottinghamshire. England, leading the series 1-0 after a dominant victory in the first Test at Lord’s, aims to secure their first Test series win since 2022 with a victory at Trent Bridge. The team faces a transitional phase in their bowling attack with the retirements of Anderson and Stuart Broad, making Woakes the senior pace bowler.

Meanwhile, West Indies are monitoring the fitness of Shamar Joseph, who struggled with a left hamstring injury in the first Test. Joseph bowled in the nets at Trent Bridge on Tuesday and appears likely to play in the second Test. Looking ahead, England might make further changes to their pace-bowling lineup for the third Test at Edgbaston, considering the demanding schedule of the series. Gus Atkinson impressed on debut at Lord’s with figures of 12-106, showcasing potential alongside Mark Wood and Chris Woakes.

The upcoming Test marks a significant milestone for Chris Woakes as he earns his 50th Test cap. With James Anderson and Stuart Broad absent, Woakes assumes a leadership role, marking a new era for England’s bowling attack.