England's Bashir to debut in second India test

England announced Thursday that spinner Shoaib Bashir would make his test debut in the second match of their India tour, after an injury to Jack Leach.

We have named our XI for the second Test in Vizag! 🏏

🇮🇳 #INDvENG 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 | #EnglandCricket — England Cricket (@englandcricket) February 1, 2024

The tourists lead the five-match series 1-0 ahead, with the second test starting Friday in Visakhapatnam.

Bashir made a late entry into India after a visa delay – the latest cricketer of Pakistani descent to have such troubles in India – and missed the opener that England won by 28 runs.

Leach, a left-arm spinner, injured his knee while fielding in the first test and was forced out with a haematoma.

Bashir will join fellow spinners Rehan Ahmed, Joe Root and Tom Hartley, the latter of whom starred in the opening win with figures of 7-62 in his test debut.

Senior pace bowler James Anderson returns to the team as the lone quick, replacing Mark Wood.

ENGLAND XI: Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Jonny Bairstow, Ben Stokes (capt), Ben Foakes, Rehan Ahmed, Tom Hartley, Shoaib Bashir, James Anderson.