Teenage fast bowler Eddie Jack has been drafted in as a practice option with the senior England team ahead of the opening Test against India at Headingley, starting June 20, following an eye-catching display for the England Lions against India A.
The 19-year-old Hampshire pacer, standing 6-foot-4 tall, turned heads during the second unofficial Test in Northampton by removing century-maker KL Rahul and regularly troubling India’s top-order. Jack finished with figures of 2/71 in the second innings, also claiming the wicket of Dhruv Jurel — one of India’s rising stars.
Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!According to The Times, Jack “impressed” the England Lions’ coaching group, which includes Andrew Flintoff, Mark Wood and Graeme Swann. Though yet to debut in the County Championship, Jack has shown maturity beyond his years in two first-class games against India A and with a five-wicket haul in a recent warm-up match against Zimbabwe.
His inclusion in England’s practice setup comes at a critical juncture, with injuries depleting the hosts’ pace resources. Jofra Archer is unavailable for the first Test, Mark Wood is out for the summer, and Gus Atkinson is nursing a hamstring injury. While veteran Chris Woakes and Josh Tongue also featured against India A, Jack’s presence adds depth and raw pace to England’s fast-bowling mix.
The five-match Test series will mark the beginning of a new WTC cycle and a fresh chapter in Indian cricket, with Shubman Gill stepping in as captain following the retirements of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli.
England squad for first Test against India
Ben Stokes (Captain), Shoaib Bashir, Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook, Brydon Carse, Sam Cook, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Jamie Overton, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Jamie Smith, Josh Tongue, Chris Woakes
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