Overview
- Zak Crawley is expected to keep his spot despite recent struggles, with selectors weighing his past successes against India and Australia.
- Shoaib Bashir, England's top Test spinner in 2024, is likely to be retained despite poor recent form in county cricket.
- Ben Stokes is regaining fitness from hamstring surgery and may only feature in the Zimbabwe Test before the India series.
- Injuries to key pacers have opened opportunities for Sam Cook, Matt Potts, Brydon Carse, and Josh Tongue in the pace attack.
- England is evaluating alternatives for the opener and spinner roles, with Ben Duckett, Ben McKinney, Liam Dawson, and Jack Leach under consideration.