Ollie Robinson in England squad for opening India Tests

Sussex's Ollie Robinson has been selected as part of a 17-player England squad for the first two matches of the LV= Insurance Test Series against India that gets underway next month.

The first Test at Trent Bridge starts on Wednesday 4th August with the second Test following at Lord's from Thursday 12th August. 

Ollie's made his Test debut earlier this summer, taking seven wickets against New Zealand at Lord's.

His Sussex teammate Jofra Archer is unavailable for the first two Tests of the India series. He continues to progress following elbow surgery but is not ready at this point to return to Test cricket. Chris Woakes suffered a bruised heel last week and is expected to be available later in the series.

All-rounder Ben Stokes returns to the Test squad after he missed the two-match series against New Zealand in June with the fractured finger he sustained during the Indian Premier League.

Stokes captained England to a 3-0 series win in the Royal London Series against Pakistan earlier this month and has since rested to help ensure his fitness ahead of the India Tests.

Jos Buttler, Jonny Bairstow and Sam Curran also come back into the Test squad.

After selecting his squad, England Men's Head Coach, Chris Silverwood said: “A home Test series against India is one of the most anticipated red-ball series and this promises to be an outstanding five Tests.

“India are a quality team who have shown their ability to get results away from home. We are expecting a highly competitive series and have selected our strongest possible squad.

“The returns of all-rounders Ben Stokes and Sam Curran provide balance that allows us to get back to a structure that has been successful in Test cricket.

“Ben’s leadership in the Royal London Series, when he played despite his finger not yet being 100 per cent, typified his character and commitment that drives the players around him forward. With Jos and Jonny back in the squad we have added further experience and quality that will be needed against the world’s second-ranked team.

“We have selected Ollie Robinson after his seven-wicket Test debut against New Zealand. Ollie proved in that Test that he has the ability to replicate his outstanding form in the County Championship at international level and we will continue to work with him to develop his England career.”

England Men’s Test Squad

Joe Root (Yorkshire) Captain
James Anderson (Lancashire)
Jonny Bairstow (Yorkshire)
Dom Bess (Yorkshire)
Stuart Broad (Nottinghamshire)
Rory Burns (Surrey)
Jos Buttler (Lancashire)
Zak Crawley (Kent)
Sam Curran (Surrey)
Haseeb Hameed (Nottinghamshire)
Dan Lawrence (Essex)
Jack Leach (Somerset)
Ollie Pope (Surrey)
Ollie Robinson (Sussex)
Dom Sibley (Warwickshire)
Ben Stokes (Durham)
Mark Wood (Durham)

LV= Insurance Test Series

1st Test: England v India, 4-8 August 2021, Trent Bridge, Nottingham
2nd Test: England v India, 12-16 August 2021, Lord’s, London
3rd Test: England v India, 25-29 August 2021, Emerald Headingley, Leeds
4th Test: England v India, 2-6 September 2021, Kia Oval, London
5th Test: England v India, 10-14 September, Emirates Old Trafford, Manchester