England dough Jacob Bethell and Pacer Sam Cook are reportedly ready to leave the English group in the middle of an ongoing test series of five matches against India. Duo, both overlooked for the third headingley test, will now return to the game at the Regional Championship for Warwickshire and Essex.
Bethell, who was in rivalry for a place in playing XI, was omitted in favor of Ollie Pope. The 21-year-old man who enjoyed the strong Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 campaign with the Royal Challengers Bengalur, transferred this form to a series limited against West India, scored 82 in the first ODI and contributed incident portraits 23*, 26 (10) and 36* (16) in the T20i series won 3-0. According to the BBC, however, now heads back to Warwickshire to retain his rhythm of the red ball, because his waiting for the fourth test cap continues.
ENG vs Indian, 1. Test day 1: Update
Meanwhile, Sam Cook was also released from England, after he disappeared on the spot in Headingley XI. England decided to bring back experienced sailor Chris Woakes, who returned from an ankle injury that has moved him since last December. Woakes’s return meant that there was no room for Cook that he hoped to add to his lonely test appearance.
Cook was impressive in the regional cricker for Essex and was considered a promising opportunity with the ball. But with England, which prefers experience with the decisive clash of Headingley, the 27-year-old now moves the focus on the home cricket in the hope of gaining another national challenge.
Both players will try to continue their strong home performances when they are waiting for another opportunity at an international level.
England won throwing and chose to the bowl first in the Headingley test. India got to a strong beginning, with the openers of Kl Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal dominate most of the first session. Brydon Carse, however, released momentum by dismissing Rahul, and Ben Stokes followed by removing the debutant Sai Sudharsan to the duck and moving the momentum just before lunch 1.
Published:
Debodinna Chakracorty
Published on:
June 20, 2025
