England have added Surrey fast bowler Gus Atkinson to their squad for the third Test against India at Lord's, following a heavy 336-run defeat at Edgbaston. The 27-year-old has not played since May due to a hamstring strain sustained during England's one-off Test against Zimbabwe, and his fitness remains uncertain.
Captain Ben Stokes acknowledged the physical and mental toll of the Edgbaston defeat, where England's bowlers toiled through 234 overs. 'We're disappointed, but we've got three days to turn around,' Stokes said. 'We need to get over this one just like we got over the enjoyment of winning the first game – we need to flip our heads around.'
The quick turnaround leaves little time for recovery, with only two days off before the series resumes. England's frontline seamers have bowled more overs than their Indian counterparts in the series so far. Stokes noted that the team would need to assess player fitness before finalising the XI.
Also included in the squad are seamers Sam Cook and Jofra Archer, both of whom were unused at Edgbaston. Cook played his only Test against Zimbabwe, while Archer is in line for his first Test cap since February 2021 after returning to first-class cricket last month.
Both teams expressed surprise at the Edgbaston pitch, which Stokes said 'was not playing the way we thought it was going to'. England coach Brendon McCullum admitted the decision to bowl first at the toss was 'slightly wrong', adding: 'We didn't expect the wicket would play quite as it did.'
