Stokes, Archer return for India series

England names the touring party for first two Tests

Impact players: Ben Stokes and Jofra Archer will add the fire-power to England Test team in India

England all-rounder Ben Stokes and fast bowler Jofra Archer will return for the four-Test series in India next month as the country’s cricket board (ECB) named on Thursday the squad for the first two matches.

Batsman Rory Burns also returns to the side after he skipped the Sri Lanka tour to stay at home for the birth of his first child but Ollie Pope has yet to recover from a shoulder injury and will be added to the squad only when he passes a fitness test.

Bairstow rested

England’s selectors have decided to rest Jonny Bairstow, Sam Curran and Mark Wood, who are currently in Sri Lanka while Craig Overton will also return home after the second Test in the island nation.

The India series is scheduled to begin on Feb. 5, with the first two matches to be played in Chennai before the teams travel to Ahmedabad for the last two games.

The squad: Joe Root (Capt.), Jofra Archer, Moeen Ali, James Anderson, Dom Bess, Stuart Broad, Rory Burns, Jos Buttler, Zak Crawley, Ben Foakes, Dan Lawrence, Jack Leach, Dom Sibley, Ben Stokes, Olly Stone and Chris Woakes.

Reserves: James Bracey, Mason Crane, Saqib Mahmood, Matthew Parkinson, Ollie Robinson and Amar Virdi .