Stokes, Archer rested for England’s tour of Sri Lanka

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Ben Stokes and Jofra Archer have been rested for England’s tour of Sri Lanka as they announced their 16 man squad as a part of Test series on Friday. As both teams will lock horn against each other starting from January 14th 2020. However the series between both the sides was postponed in March this year due to COVID-19 pandemic. But the upcoming tour will be played behind closed doors in Galle.

Rory Burns too will miss the red ball tour as his wife is expecting his first child during the second week of January. The other player Ollie Pope who is recovering from his shoulder injury which he suffered in September during the Test series against Pakistan will join the squad and continue his rehab during the four-match Test series against India in February.

“The England national selectors have named a 16 strong squad and seven travelling reserves for the Men’s Test Tour of Sri Lanka,” the England and Wales Cricket Board ( ECB) said in an official statement.

“The National selectors will provide a block of rest for all multi-format players at various points over the winter period” it added

After Sri Lanka, England will be travelling to India for a four-match series starting from February 5 in Chennai. However, Archer and Stokes will return in England squad for red-ball series against India.

England Test Squad: Joe Root(C), Moeen Ali, James Anderson, Jonathan Bairstow, Dom Bess, Stuart Broad, Jos Butler, Zak Crawley, Sam Curran, Ben Foakes, Dan Lawrence, Jack Leach, Dom Sibley, Olly Stone, Chris Woakes and Mark Wood.

Reserves: James Bracey, Mason Crane, Saqib Mehmood, Craig Overton, Matthew Parkinson, Ollie Robinson, Amar Virdi