Joe Root’s England have named a power-packed 12-man squad for the opening Ashes Test, starting Wednesday, December 8 at The Gabba in Brisbane. Veteran fast bowler James Anderson won’t be a part of the game after being ruled out due to a calf issue. It was the same problem that didn’t allow the experienced campaigner to play in the home Ashes back in 2019.

Chris Woakes, Mark Wood, Stuart Broad and Ollie Robinson are the three specialist fast bowlers in the squad. As per reports earlier, Woakes is most likely to partner Wood and Robinson in the pace department. The 35-year-old Broad, the Brits’ second-highest Test wicket-taker after Anderson, is not yet confirmed of a place in the final playing eleven.

Left-handed Rory Burns and Haseeb Hameed, who made his comeback in the India Tests earlier this year, are most likely to open the batting for the Three Lions. Jos Buttler, who was earlier apprehensive of the Ashes due to the hard quarantine rules, have also been picked.

However, wicketkeeper-batter Jonny Bairstow couldn’t make his way into the team. Jack Leach is the lone specialist spin-bowling option in the eleven apart from the part-timers of Root.

India skipper Virat Kohli has backed Axar Patel to play international cricket for a long period of time if the latter stays fit and works on his all-round skills. The 27-year-old Axar has made a dream start to his Test career, having already picked up 36 wickets from five matches with as many as five five-wicket hauls and one 10-wicket haul.

After picking up 27 wickets from three matches against England earlier this year, Patel showed his prowess in the two-match series versus New Zealand as well. In two games against the Black Caps, the left-arm spinner picked up nine wickets and finished the series as the third-highest wicket-taker.

The 33-year-old Kohli, during the the post-match press conference after India’s series win against the Kiwis, heaped praises on Patel and.