England announce playing XI for third Test against India

The two powerhouses of cricket India (IND) and England (ENG) are poised to clash in the third Test of the England tour of India at the Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Rajkot, commencing on February 15. With the series tied at 1-1 following India's triumph in the previous match, they enter this encounter as favorites. Opting to bat first after winning the toss in the second match, India amassed 396 runs, led by Jaiswal's remarkable double-century.

Despite a strong start from England's openers, they were dismissed for 253. In their third innings, India posted 255 runs, with Gill's century being a standout performance. England's batting efforts fell short as they were bundled out for 292, resulting in a 106-run defeat. On Wednesday, the England Cricket Board (ECB) announced the playing eleven for the third Test match against India in Rajkot, with pacer Mark Wood replacing Shoaib Bashir in the squad.

"The Three Lions have made one change with Mark Wood replacing Shoaib Bashir," the statement from ECB said.

The third Test is scheduled to begin on February 15 in Rajkot, followed by the fourth Test in Ranchi on February 23. The fifth and final Test of the series is slated for March 7 in Dharamsala. Captain Ben Stokes will celebrate his 100th Test appearance for England at the Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium.

One change to our XI for the third Test in Rajkot 🏏 🔁



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Every Test is just as important as the next one: Ben Stokes

England captain Ben Stokes downplays the significance of his impending milestone of 100 Test matches, emphasizing his focus on delivering his best for the Three Lions in every match. Stokes is poised to become the 16th player from England to reach this milestone as he leads the touring side against India in the third match of the ongoing five-match series in Rajkot on Thursday. While acknowledging gratitude for the opportunities, Stokes indicates that he won't attach strong emotions to reaching this milestone. Following a week-long break in Abu Dhabi, England is eager to resume action in Rajkot, with Stokes' 100th Test serving as added motivation for the team.

"Every Test is just as important as the next one. Then there's the next one, which will be 101 - it's just one more. It's a sign of longevity, but 99, 100, or 101 doesn't make much difference. It's just a number. I don't want it to sound like I'm not thankful for the opportunities I've had, but with milestones, it's not done until it's done," Stokes said in Rajkot, as quoted by the BBC.

England Playing XI: 1. Zak Crawley, 2. Ben Duckett, 3. Ollie Pope, 4. Joe Root, 5. Jonny Bairstow, 6. Ben Stokes (C), 7. Ben Foakes, 8. Rehan Ahmed, 9. Tom Hartley, 10. Mark Wood, 11. James Anderson