England have recalled Toby Roland-Jones for the series-deciding third Test against the West Indies at the Middlesex paceman's Lord's home ground, skipper Joe Root said Wednesda
Toby Roland-Jones
England have recalled Toby Roland-Jones for the series-deciding third Test against the West Indies at the Middlesex paceman's Lord's home ground, skipper Joe Root said Wednesday.
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Roland-Jones is the only change to the side that suffered a surprise five-wicket defeat by the West Indies in the second Test at Headingley as the tourists levelled the three-match series at 1-1. The 29-year-old, who made his debut in the recent home series win over South Africa, was omitted despite taking 14 wickets at under 20 apiece in his first three Tests and was replaced in Leeds by Chris Woakes, returning from a side strain.
Now, however, the roles are reversed, with Roland-Jones coming back into the side at the expense of Warwickshire all-rounder Woakes, who had disappointing bowling match figures of two for 122 at Headingley. "Home conditions, he (Roland-Jones) obviously knows the surfaces and is bowling very well at the moment," Root told reporters at Lord's when asked to explain the change in his line-up.
"It's obviously very difficult to leave somebody like Chris out, he's been a consistent performer in Test cricket for England. "But this is a team I think is going to win this week," star batsman Root added the day before Thursday's start. "There's plenty of cricket to be played throughout the rest of this summer and he (Woakes) is a fantastic performer across all formats. I fully expect him to come back strong."
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