Worried England call up batsman Dawid Malan for 3rd Test

LONDON: A harried England team management, smarting from the loss in the second Test at Lord's, has called up batsman Dawid Malan to bolster the top order for the third Test against India to be played in Leeds from August 25. England lost the first Test by 151 runs in a dramatic fashion after their top-order collapsed and exposed the middle and lower order to Indian bowlers.

The England openers have failed to put up a substantial partnership. If Malan plays, he will represent England in a Test after exactly three years. He has played 15 Test matches and scored 724 runs. In fact, the 33-year-old Malan's last Test was against India during Kohli & Co's 2018 tour of England.

Batsmen Zak Crawley and Dom Sibley are omitted and will return to Kent and Warwickshire respectively, to spend some time playing. "Dawid Malan deserves his opportunity in the Test arena. He has a lot of experience across all formats and, if called upon, I am confident that he can come and do well on his home ground," said England head coach Chris Silverwood in a statement issued by England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB).

England squad for third Test: Joe Root (captain), Moeen Ali, James Anderson, Jonathan Bairstow, Rory Burns, Jos Buttler, Sam Curran, Haseeb Hameed, Dan Lawrence, Saqib Mahmood, Dawid Malan, Craig Overton, Ollie Pope, Ollie Robinson, Mark Wood. (IANS)

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