Mark Wood, England’s fastest bowler, was left out again. Seimer Chris Walks and leg-spinner Rehan Ahmed were also overlooked, favoring Tong. Joe Root will be the only spinner on the team.
The Lord’s field was fairly green two days before the test, and if it stays that way, it is expected to provide more pace and bounce than the flat track in the Birmingham opener.
England XI: Ben Duckett, Zac Crawley, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (c), Jonathan Bairstow (wk), Stuart Broad, Ollie Robinson, Josh Tong, James Anderson