Essex batsmen, Tom Westley and Alastair Cook have been named in the England starting XI to face West Indies for the inaugral Day/Night Test match against West Indies on Thursday at Edgbaston.
England captain Joe Root has confirmed that Mark Stoneman will make his debut and the Three Lions will make one change to the side that played in the fourth and final Test against South Africa, with Surrey batsman Stoneman replacing former Durham team-mate Keaton Jennings as the opening partner for Alastair Cook.
Seamer Chris Woakes and spinner Mason Crane miss out on a place in the starting XI from the 13-man squad named for the first ever day-night Test to be hosted in England.
“Mason and Chris Woakes are the guys missing out,” Root told ecb.co.uk. “Looking at the surface, I think we need to play the extra seamer and with the lack of game time Chris has had, another week off will stand him in good stead coming back from such a serious injury. I also think Toby deserves an opportunity in this game.
“Mark Stoneman has scored a lot of runs this year and in previous years. He has a well-rounded game and he’s a mature character, so hopefully he can take his opportunity.”
England team for first Test against West Indies:
Joe Root (Yorkshire, captain)
Moeen Ali (Worcestershire)
James Anderson (Lancashire)
Jonathan Bairstow (Yorkshire)
Stuart Broad (Nottinghamshire)
Alastair Cook (Essex)
Dawid Malan (Middlesex)
Toby Roland-Jones (Middlesex)
Ben Stokes (Durham)
Mark Stoneman (Surrey)
Tom Westley (Essex)
