Jofra Archer is back in the England red-ball squad for the second Test against India at Edgbaston starting July 2. The speedster will be keen on an opportunity after sitting out for more than four years. After strong performances from Josh Tongue (4/86 and 3/72) and Brydon Carse (1/96 and 3/80) at Headingley, it is unlikely that Archer will be slotted into the XI straightaway.
 

He can if England decides to rest Chris Woakes, as he finished with only a wicket in two innings in the series opener.
 

The fiery Tongue

Former English first-class seamer Jack Brooks, who has 531 wickets, felt the home team could tinker with the combination from the third Test onwards, which will be held at Lord's.
"I don’t expect any changes in the squad. You could have like-for-like replacements at Lord’s. If Gus Atkinson is ready [recovering from a hamstring strain], he could have a go at Lord’s as he has three five-fors and a Test hundred there. I am impressed with Tongue. He is creating the enforcer role, bowling the short stuff, and picking up wickets. He attacks the stumps, and the slightly awkward action helps. It looks like he is coming in all the time but the ball nips away. When it does come in, it comes sharply at the stumps. 
 

"Carse is a big character and a personality. He is also a handy batter and can take the game on. Most England fast bowlers can bat [Carse, Jamie Overton, Atkinson, Woakes, Archer, Tongue] which lengthens the batting order," the fast bowler, better known as the Headband Warrior for his trademark white headband, told SportsBoom.com on Thursday.
 

Update on Jamie Overton
 

England has retained all-rounder Overton in the 15-member squad although it appears that he has not fully recovered from the nasty finger injury he sustained in the one-day series against the West Indies in May.
 

Brooks has been working as a coach with Surrey's second XI. He has been helping Overton [a Surrey player] too. "He is raring to go, but I don’t think he is ready yet. He will be ready by the third Test onwards," said the man, who was Yorkshire's leading star in the Championship triumphs in 2014 and 2015.
 

Nair's return to India via UK
 

Karun Nair made an impressive return to Test cricket for India after eight years, highlighting his resilience. Brooks saw the middle-order batter battling his demons from close quarters as they happened to cross paths in English club cricket in 2023.
 

Brooks reasoned that Nair, who scored a triple ton against England in 2016, could provide the calmness in the batting department if he gets a long rope. He didn't score big in Headingley (0 and 20) but has the experience to bloom in the English conditions. "He played in the West of England Premier League with Burbage & Easton Royal CC. Even I played three games as it was my last season of professional cricket. Former Somerset cricketer Peter Trego recruited me, and Karun was also there. He was dropped from his domestic side in Karnataka, and he was completely in the wilderness. He wanted to improve his cricket skills in England during his four to five-month stay. His goal was to regain his form and get noticed. He was a cost-effective choice, and having a player of his reputation in English club cricket was a big deal.
 

"Burbage won the league and got promoted to the premier division for the first time in history. He scored runs [two centuries and a fifty] and picked up wickets with his off-spin. He is a lovely guy, who also loves his golf. He stayed here trying to regain love for the game as he was having a tough time back home," he said, adding: "Nair hasn’t played a lot of Test cricket even though he is 33, but has the calmness and that can be useful in the middle-order in the absence of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli."
 

Apart from Nair, Brooks has played with Cheteshwar Pujara at Yorkshire and against Ajinkya Rahane (Hampshire), and Mohammed Siraj (Warwickshire). 
 

Kuldeep Yadav at Edgbaston?
 

India has a task cut out ahead of the second Test as the bowling department, except for Jasprit Bumrah, lacked venom. "I haven’t seen a lot of Prasidh Krishna but he looks like someone who can take wickets. It’s just that they didn’t have a lot of control in the first Test. He is tall and hits the impressive deck," added Brooks.
 

With his experience of playing at Edgbaston, Brooks felt wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav could be a strong option for the visitors. "Edgbaston may have a bit more life and grass than Headingley. It could do more or remain dry or turgid. If it is the latter, India may consider getting Yadav into the XI who could be useful on that wicket."

READ| Jack Brooks: County cricket legend and a leading sports keynote speaker

Jack Brooks is an award winning Motivational speaker with the Champions Speakers Agency – the UK’s leading keynote speaker agency.