Ben Stokes and Jofra Archer have been included in England's Test squad
Ben Stokes and Jofra Archer have been included in England’s Test squad (Picture: Getty)

Ben Stokes and Jofra Archer have returned to the England squad for the first two Tests of the tour of India.

All-rounder Stokes and fast bowler Archer were rested for the current series in Sri Lanka, which England lead 1-0 going into the second and final match.

Opening batsman Rory Burns, who is currently on paternity leave, has also returned to England’s squad for the first and second Tests in India.

Ollie Pope is still recovering from a shoulder injury, however, and Jonny Bairstow, Mark Wood and Sam Curran have all been rested for the first half of the four-Test series against Virat Kohli’s side.

England’s Test series against India starts on February 5, with Chennai hosting the first two matches. The third and fourth Tests take place in Ahmedabad.

National selector Ed Smith has confirmed Jos Buttler will leave the tour after the first Test, with Ben Foakes keeping wicket in the second match.

England captain Joe Root said: ‘It’s a huge year of Test cricket and also a World Cup, a lot of one-day cricket alongside. We’re going to have to look after players.

England's squad for first two India Tests

Joe Root (Yorkshire) (captain), Jofra Archer (Sussex), Moeen Ali (Worcestershire), James Anderson (Lancashire), Dom Bess (Yorkshire), Stuart Broad (Nottinghamshire), Rory Burns (Surrey), Jos Buttler (Lancashire), Zak Crawley (Kent), Ben Foakes (Surrey), Dan Lawrence (Essex), Jack Leach (Somerset), Dom Sibley (Warwickshire), Ben Stokes (Durham), Olly Stone (Warwickshire), Chris Woakes (Warwickshire).

Reserves: James Bracey (Gloucestershire), Mason Crane (Hampshire), Saqib Mahmood (Lancashire), Matthew Parkinson (Lancashire), Ollie Robinson (Sussex), Amar Virdi (Surrey).

‘With the climate and environment we’re in, resting players is going to be vital.’

On the return of Stokes and Archer, Root added: ‘You speak to any side in the world – those two guys coming back into it would give the squad a huge boost and it’s certainly the case for us.

‘I’m very excited to see them back in and around the squad, hopefully they are full of energy and ready to go when they get here.’

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