Right-handed batsman Ollie Pope has been added to the England squad and will be available for selection for the upcoming four-Test series against India, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) announced on Wednesday.
“Pope has fully recovered from a left shoulder injury sustained in August 2020 against Pakistan. The England medical team are satisfied that he is available for selection,” the ECB said in a statement.
Pope, who has played 13 Tests for England, amassing 645 runs at an average of 37.9, has practised with the full England squad at the MA Chidambaram Stadium over the past two days, the statement added.
India and England will be playing four Tests, five T20Is and three ODIs. The first Test of the long series will begin in Chennai from Friday.
While M. A. Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai will host the first two Tests, the Sardar Patel Stadium, commonly known as Motera Stadium, will be he venue of the final Two matches with the third Test being a Day-Night affair.
India currently sits at the second place in the ICC Test Team Rankings.