England pick Pope over Bethell for first India Test

England v India - first Test

Venue: Headingley Dates: 20-24 June Time: 11:00 BST

Coverage: Ball-by-ball radio commentary on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra and BBC Sounds. In-play video clips and text commentary on the BBC Sport website and app. Today at the Test on BBC iPlayer and BBC Two each night.

England have retained Ollie Pope at number three for the first Test against India at Headingley on Friday, meaning Jacob Bethell misses out.

Vice-captain Pope would have been the most vulnerable member of the top order had England wanted to include 21-year-old Bethell.

Bethell has never made a professional century, but looks set for a big future in international cricket. He impressed with three half-centuries in three Tests against New Zealand last year and again in making 82 in the first one-day international against West Indies last month.

England have resisted change in sticking with Pope, who made 171 in the defeat of Zimbabwe - a Test Bethell missed because he was playing for Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the Indian Premier League.

Before that Test, captain Ben Stokes appeared to hint Bethell would make an immediate return to the England XI, only to later clarify he was referring to the squad and claimed his words were "twisted to suit an agenda".

And Stokes has kept faith with Pope at the beginning of a defining period for his captaincy. The five Tests against India are followed by an Ashes tour of Australia.

In return, Pope will need to improve on his record against Australia and India. In a combined 18 Tests against the two, he averages 22.05, compared to his career mark of 35.49.

Elsewhere, the England XI is as expected, with pace bowlers Chris Woakes and Brydon Carse returning in place of Sam Cook and Gus Atkinson as the two changes from the Zimbabwe Test.

Woakes, who has missed England's past two Tests, has recovered from an ankle injury, while Carse will play his first home Test after overcoming a foot problem.

Carse could be in line to share the new ball with Woakes, despite usually operating as a change bowler. The Durham man has opened the bowling on 16 occasions in the 94 first-class innings in which he has bowled, managing a combined 2-246 in those spells.

"I'm relishing that opportunity, if that is what it is," Carse told BBC Sport. "I opened the bowling during the one-day series against West Indies, and felt comfortable and confident. If that opportunity awaits, it's something I'm looking forward to."

Cook and Jamie Overton are the seamers in the squad to miss out, while Atkinson is sidelined with a hamstring injury.

Atkinson is expected to return later in the series and was at England's training session at Headingley on Wednesday. Another pace bowler working towards a comeback is Jofra Archer, whose long-awaited return to red-ball cricket is gathering pace.

A string of injuries has meant the 30-year-old has not played first-class or Test cricket since 2021.

After overcoming a thumb problem, Archer is in line to play for Sussex in the County Championship at Durham, starting on Sunday.

If he comes through that, Archer could be in line to return for the second Test against India at Edgbaston, or third Test at Lord's.

India are yet to announce their XI, but will have a new-look top order after the retirements of captain Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli since their tour of Australia in January.

Rishabh Pant confirmed he would stay at five, with new captain Shubman Gill at four, in Wednesday's news conference.

On the evolving India team, Carse said: "They have lost two of their most established, world-class batters, but we all know the quality that India have.

"Whatever side they put out, they will have a lot of quality. It will certainly bring different challenges, and it's exciting. Two good sides going against each other, with the same goal."