India vs England: Alastair Cook and Co to unwind before 4th Test

Now he will fly to Mumbai to join up with England’s senior squad on Monday from Dubai, where he will be captaining the Lions in two 50-over games today [THURSDAY] and on Saturday. Sadly the most talked player of England team he has to set back for home early.

India captain Virat Kohli has moved up to a career-best third spot in the latest ICC Player Rankings for Test Batsmen. Hameed tour has ended prematurely because of a finger injury, while Ansari has a back injury.

Zafar Ansari was injured during the second test in Vishakapatnam and missed the Mohali test.

The first task for Jennings, the leading run-scorer in the Specsavers County Championship this year, amassing nearly 1,600 at an average of 64.50, is to clear his mind for his next match against UAE.

The question of Cook’s leadership longevity refuses to go away, even following the assurance from his predecessor and England and Wales Cricket Board director Andrew Strauss just last month that he expects him to be in charge at least until next summer.

Durham’s occasionally eccentric England fast bowler Mark Wood, himself recovering from injury, was among those Jennings called. “Andy Flower told me”. Leach claimed 65 Championship wickets at an average of 21.87 – no England-qualified player claimed more in Division One – but his Somerset captain in 2016, Chris Rogers, suggested he had “emotionally. a bit of a way to go” before he was ready for global cricket.

Hampshire all-rounder Dawson, like Ansari a left-arm spinner, is now busy at the Bangladesh Premier League with Rangpur Riders. Dawson got only 2o wicket in Championship in 2016 whereas Leach claimed 65 ranking him the highest wicket taker in Division One Championship.

The 24-year-old left-handed Jennings has earned his national call-up.

Joe Root says Alastair Cook is a “brilliant leader” and has backed the England skipper to retain the captaincy for a “few more years”. His mother hails from Sunderland, and Jennings has qualified to play for England serving a four-year period with Durham.

The fourth Test begins in Mumbai next Thursday ahead of the final match in Chennai which begins on December 16. Having played 56 Tests, he broke Michael Atherton’s record of 54 Tests as England captain during the present series against India.

With England 2-0 down to India going into the Mumbai Test, the form of Stokes in alien conditions represents a rare plus during what is proving to be a tough tour against the world’s No1 Test side.