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England have named their starting XI for the first Ashes Test, scheduled to be played against Australia from June 16 in Birmingham.
Ben Stokes will lead the England Test side for the first time in the Ashes and the southpaw has helped create a bunch of match-winners, who have won 10 of their last 12 Tests. Stokes and head coach Brendon McCullum have played aggressive cricket, famously dubbed as the ‘Bazball’.
Veteran all-rounder Moeen Ali, who recently came out of his retirement to participate in the Ashes, has been included in the playing XI at his home ground, Edgbaston. On the other hand, fast bowlers James Anderson and Ollie Robinson make their return to the team after missing the one-off Test against Ireland due to injuries.
Stuart Broad has been preferred over Mark Wood, who was England’s leading wicket-taker in the 2021-22 Ashes series in Australia with 17 scalps as captain Stokes wanted the experience of Broad and Anderson in his final XI. Broad and Anderson have taken a combined 1,267 wickets in the longest format of the game.
Jonny Bairstow will continue to keep wickets, while Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley would open the batting.
England’s playing XI for the Edgbaston Test:
Ben Duckett, Zak Crawley, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (c), Jonny Bairstow, Moeen Ali, Stuart Broad, Ollie Robinson, James Anderson.
