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England has verified its starting eleven for the second Test against India at Edgbaston, Birmingham, with Jofra Archer absent. The home team will field the same lineup, led by captain Ben Stokes, keeping the pace trio of Chris Woakes, Brydon Carse, and Josh Tongue. Reports say that Archer was not in Birmingham two days before the Test match; he had gone home because of a family matter.

Woakes’ spot may have been the only one debated, but because he is the senior player after James Anderson and Stuart Broad’s retirements from international cricket, the team management is backing the 36-year-old. Woakes has said that he is almost at his best and was happy to have come through the Headingley Test without any physical problems, after returning from an injury.

Carse played well in the second innings, and Josh Tongue seemed to learn how to dismiss the opposition’s tail-enders, which he did well in both innings. Shoaib Bashir took a couple of wickets, but England will expect a better performance from the inexperienced spinner at Edgbaston.

Vice-captain Ollie Pope, with hundreds in a row, has silenced any doubts about his place in the team and will likely play the entire series, unless he gets injured. After chasing 371 successfully in the first game in Leeds, the home team will want to increase their lead as India comes to Edgbaston with doubts about their team selection, especially given the uncertainty around Jasprit Bumrah’s fitness. The second Test begins on Wednesday, July 2.

England’s starting eleven for the second Test: Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (C), Jamie Smith (WK), Chris Woakes, Brydon Carse, Josh Tongue, Shoaib Bashir.