Ashes 2019 | Jack Leach, Jofra Archer recieve call-up for Lord's Test; Moeen Ali dropped
In a bid to revive their sagging fortunes, England have dropped Moeen Ali and recalled Somerset spinner Jack Leach into a 12-man squad for the second Ashes Test in Lord's. Meanwhile, Jofra Archer, who massively impressed in the second division game for Surrey, has also been added to the team.
Moeen has reached fifty only once in his last 16 Test innings and has been a constant cause of worry, especially because of his dwindling impact with the ball, and that was exposed big-time as he returned with 1-42 and 2-130 with the ball, while scoring just four runs in the match -- including a first-innings duck. With Lord's set to favour the pacers, the requirement of a regular bowler who could land the ball stump-to-stump is very important which propelled the selection of left-hander Jack Leach, who batted impressively as a night watchman against Ireland the week before.
Meanwhile, as expected, fast bowler Jofra Archer was included in the 12-man trimmed squad and looks poised to make his Test debut in the absence of England's record wicket-taker James Anderson who broke down with a calf injury after bowling just four overs at Edgbaston. The Sussex pacer put his hand up for an Ashes spot when he took 6-27 and scored a century for Sussex second XI in a county cricket warm-up match against Gloucestershire earlier this week.
While Olly Stone could have been an option, he was ruled out due to a back issue. Sam Curran will form the 12 but it is highly unlikely that England will tinker with the combination and Curran, in all probability, will warm the bench.
The second Test will be played at Lord's, starting on August 14.
England 12-man squad: Joe Root (captain), Jofra Archer, Jonny Bairstow, Stuart Broad, Rory Burns, Jos Buttler, Sam Curran, Joe Denly, Jack Leach, Jason Roy, Ben Stokes, Chris Woakes.