Saqib Mahmood added to England squad for second Test as cover for Stuart Broad
The Lancashire paceman was named as man of the series during the recent one-day series against Pakistan.
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.England have added seamer Saqib Mahmood to their squad for the second Test against India as cover for the injured Stuart Broad.
Broad pulled up during warm-ups at Lord’s on Tuesday and was sent for scans on a calf problem. Results have yet to be made public, but the decision to call up Mahmood suggests he is unlikely to rally in the short term.
The Lancashire paceman, who was named as man of the series during the recent one-day series against Pakistan is the second player to join the group in the last 24 hours after Moeen Ali.
Both players go straight into the highest form of red-ball cricket, having spent recent weeks honing their white-ball skills in The Hundred.
While Moeen has led his Birmingham Phoenix to the top of the table, Mahmood has taken five wickets in five matches for Oval Invincibles.
The 24-year-old has yet to play Test cricket, but has 16 limited-overs caps to his name since making his England debut in Wellington almost two years ago. He was left out of the recent series against Pakistan but flourished when a coronavirus outbreak saw the original squad sent into self-isolation and replaced at short notice.
He topped the wicket charts, the bowling averages and the economy rates in a high-class display which shot him back up the pecking order.