The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) announced on Tuesday that speed bowler Saqib Mahmood would make his Test debut against the West Indies in the second Test match. After Mark Wood suffered a right elbow injury in the first Test, Mahmood, 25, will take his position in the England squad.
Mahmood has 70 wickets at an average of 27.92 in 25 First-Class matches for Lancashire County Cricket Club, with his best statistics being 5/47. The Lancashire pacer has previously made his limited-overs debut against New Zealand in Wellington in November 2019, followed by his first ODI match against South Africa in February 2020.
After being passed over for the Ashes, Saqib Mahmood will make his Test debut.
The 25-year-old had voiced his unhappiness earlier this year after being overlooked for the Ashes series against Australia in Australia. Due to fitness concerns, Mahmood was advised that he will not be considered for the Ashes Tests.
Last year, Mahmood was a member of the Test squad and was named as a back-up for the India series, but he did not make the Ashes team, only appearing in one game for the England Lions before joining the Sydney Thunder in the Big Bash League (BBL).
England makes one alteration from the first Test, which ended in a tie in Antigua. The ECB announced in a media release that Lancashire seamer Saqib Mahmood would make his Test debut in place of Durham’s Mark Wood, who has a right elbow injury.
WI versus ENG: In the first Test, West Indies held England to a tie.
At their 80-run fifth-wicket partnership, England and West Indies drew the first Test in Antigua. Senior all-rounder Jason Holder (37) and Nkrumah Bonner (38) batted for two hours to wear out England’s bowling attack. The second Test will be held at the Kensington Oval in Barbados from March 12 to 16.
Alex Lees, Zak Crawley, Joe Root (c), Dan Lawrence, Ben Stokes, Jonathan Bairstow, Ben Foakes (wk), Chris Woakes, Craig Overton, Jack Leach, Saqib Mahmood (wk), Chris Woakes, Craig Overton, Jack Leach, Saqib Mahmood (wk), Chris Woakes, Craig Overton, Jack Leach, Saqib Mahmoo