Wicketkeeper-batsman
Jos Buttler and left-arm spinner Jack Leach have been recalled in England’s
squad for the upcoming fifth and final Test against India at Old Trafford,
Manchester on Friday.

Buttler
returns to the squad after missing the fourth Test due to paternity leave – he attended
the birth of his second child. Leach, who was part of the squad for the first
two Tests, could make his first appearance for England since featuring in the innings
defeat to India in Ahmedabad in March.

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Meanwhile,
Sam Billings, who was included in the squad for the fourth Test as a cover for Buttler,
has returned to Kent.

Leach could
replace Moeen Ali in Manchester, with the all-rounder averaging just 16.60 with
the bat and 49.83 with the ball since being recalled to the side in the second
Test.

India scripted
a famous victory in the third Test, defeating England by 157 runs for their
first triumph at the Oval, London in 50 years. India were bundled out for just
191 runs, with the hosts taking a 99-run lead in the first innings.

England
also have to take some big calls in the pace department, as James Anderson,
Chris Woakes and Ollie Robinson were looking worn out after toiling for 150
over in the second innings of the Oval Test.

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And with just
a three-day gap between the next Test, the hosts could look at playing two
spinners or rotate the seam attack with the likes of Mark Wood, Sam Curran and
Saqib Mahmood also available for the selectors.

But Virat
Kohli’s side showed their resilience, bouncing back to score 466 runs in the
second innings and set a mammoth 368-run target for England to chase. Rohit
Sharma scored a majestic eighth Test ton, which was also his first away from home,
while Shardul Thakur brought up his second fifty of the match and Rishabh Pant
also notched a half-century as the Indian batters dominated proceedings on the
third and fourth days of the Test.

With the
win, India currently lead the five-match series 2-1 and need to avoid defeat to
register their first away series win against England since 2007.