Notts star Ball in England Test squad for India tour

Nottinghamshire bowler Jake Ball's international winter looks set to be an extended one, with England naming an unchanged 16-man squad for their upcoming five-test tour of India.
ON THE BALL -- Nottinghamshire seamer Jake Ball, who could be on the brink of a return to the England Test team in Bangladesh and India this winter after impressing in one-day internationals. (PHOTO BY: Simon Trafford).ON THE BALL -- Nottinghamshire seamer Jake Ball, who could be on the brink of a return to the England Test team in Bangladesh and India this winter after impressing in one-day internationals. (PHOTO BY: Simon Trafford).
ON THE BALL -- Nottinghamshire seamer Jake Ball, who could be on the brink of a return to the England Test team in Bangladesh and India this winter after impressing in one-day internationals. (PHOTO BY: Simon Trafford).

With James Anderson continuing to recover from a shoulder injury, Ball, alongside fellow Nottinghamshire seamer Stuart Broad, will form much of the spine of England’s fast bowling unit for the series.

Ball, of Mansfield, could well feature in England’s second Test against Bangladesh in Dhaka on Friday, after captain Alastair Cook hinted toward changes after his side’s dramatic victory in Chittagong.

He has been made to wait for his second Test appearance after debuting against Pakistan at Lord’s in August, but thrilled on his one day bow, becoming the first Englishman to take five wickets on an One Day International debut.

Facing competition from Steven Finn and spinner Zafar Ansari, both waiting in the wings, the Welbeck Wizard could well be forced to bide his time before making his return to the Test side.

However, there is no return to the Test squad for opener Alex Hales, who opted out of the Bangladesh tour because of security concerns.

Hales, whose Test place was already under threat after a disappointing summer series against Pakistan, is expected to return for the limited-overs leg of the India tour, which takes place in January and February.

England squad: Alastair Cook (capt), Moeen Ali, Zafar Ansari, Jonny Bairstow (wk), Jake Ball, Gary Ballance, Gareth Batty, Stuart Broad, Jos Buttler (wk), Ben Duckett, Steven Finn, Haseeb Hameed, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Ben Stokes, Chris Woakes.