England hand Tom Hartley Test debut in spin-heavy bowling attack
![Tom Hartley](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.planetsport.com%2Fimage-library%2Fland%2F700%2F1222043_tom-hartley-11-jan-2024.webp&w=3840&q=75)
England have included three spinners for the series opener against India, giving Tom Hartley his Test debut in Hyderabad.
Hartley, the Lancashire left-armer, joins the established Jack Leach and teenage leg-spinner Rehan Ahmed in an attack that suggests the tourists expect lavish turn.
Mark Wood has been picked as the only seam bowler in the side, meaning England's record wicket-taker James Anderson sits out.
With Wood operating best in short, rapid bursts, England are ready to embrace an entirely different rhythm of cricket. Joe Root's off-breaks are also likely to feature heavily and Stokes has even suggested he could open the bowling with the part-timer.
Ben Foakes returns as wicketkeeper, with Jonny Bairstow reverting to a specialist batting role at number five.
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