England are set to hand Jack Leach the final spot in their XI for the opening Test against West Indies in Antigua, at the uncapped Saqib Mahmood’s expense.
Barring a late change of heart, Leach is set to provide a spin option on a dry-looking surface at the start of what should be a competitive series between two World Test Championship cellar dwellers.
A back spasm suffered in the sole warm-up match has ruled out Ollie Robinson, with Craig Overton taking his new ball role alongside Chris Woakes. Mark Wood will provide an express pace option, and Ben Stokes will chip in with overs.
There is an air of novelty about England’s attack, with Woakes rarely and Overton never afforded the new ball, and Wood taking on a new role as a senior figure.
Leach, meanwhile, has never been backed in a four-man attack, which this essentially is, with Stokes recovering from a side strain suffered in Australia. Mahmood will have to wait for his debut, but England will welcome the variety brought by spin.
There will be a debutant, with Alex Lees opening the batting, in a team showing a total of six changes from the final Ashes Test. Captain Joe Root moves to No3, with Dan Lawrence coming in at four, Jonny Bairstow returning from injury at six, and Ben Foakes back as wicketkeeper-bat.
There are just five survivors from the Ashes defeat in Hobart: Zak Crawley, Root, Stokes, Woakes and Wood.
