CHENNAI: In ideal circumstances, England would have not wanted to meddle with a winning team that has just outplayed India in all departments three days ago. But England’s hand has been forced by an injury to Jofra Archer that rules him out of the second Test at Chepauk starting on Saturday.
In addition, Jos Buttler has also returned home to rest for the last three Tests and will be replaced by Ben Foakes. Barbados-born pacer Archer experienced discomfort in his right elbow during England’s 227-run win over India in the first Test.
The 25-year-old has had an injection subsequently and will hope to be fit for the third Test in Ahmedabad.
While there was talk of James Anderson also resting despite his heroics in the opening Test as England look to rotate their players, the injury to Archer will force them to reconsider their plans of resting the 38-year-old.
Stuart Broad, who has 517 Test wickets himself, is set to come in for Archer.

Having seen Broad bowl in the nets over the last week, Foakes is confident that England will not be weakened.
“Broad is bowling at a good pace and with a lot of skill in the nets, as you expect from someone like him. He looks in a good position to come in and do well,” the 27-year-old wicketkeeper-batsman told reporters on Thursday.
Do these changes unsettle the England team and put more pressure on those coming in? According to Foakes, it is just a great opportunity for those coming in to replicate the performance of the players in the first Test.
“You obviously want to come in when the team is doing well and carry that momentum. It has been so impressive to see how well the guys have played. Those who come in want to be able to replicate that. It is a good thing to come into a side like that. It gives extra motivation for the lads to try and press for 2-0,” Foakes said.
Foakes is actually considered to have the best glove work in England and has a batting average of 41.5 from five Tests – played back in 2018-19 – but it is perhaps unfortunate that he has an all-round match-winner in Buttler competing for the same spot.
Foakes is now eager to make his mark and sees the return of fans as an added bonus.
“The fans coming back in is an added bonus. Being in the biobubble, you don’t get to see a lot of people. Just to have that atmosphere back is going to be an awesome feeling,” he said.