Malan recalled, England axe struggling batters

England have dropped struggling opener Dom Sibley from their squad after losing the second Test against India and have brought Dawid Malan back after a three-year absence.

India prevailed by 151 runs at Lord's to go one up in the series, with Sibley making scores of 11 and nought as his average dipped to 19.77 in 10 Tests this year.

It's prompted England to issue a summons to the world's No.1 ranked Twenty20 batsman Malan.

Right-hander Zak Crawley, who had been dropped ahead of the second Test after a similarly poor run of form, has also been released from the squad.

"Dawid Malan deserves his opportunity in the Test arena,” England head coach Chris Silverwood said on Wednesday.

"He has a lot of experience across all formats and, if called upon, I am confident that he can come and do well.

"Dom Sibley needs some time away to regain his confidence after a challenging period.

"He will return to Warwickshire to spend time in the middle without the scrutiny and find some rhythm and confidence.

"Dom offers a lot of value to the Test environment and some time away should help him. However, he remains part of our plans."

Malan made the last of his 15 Test appearances in August 2018 but has been in encouraging form in the white-ball formats while an innings of 199 in his only first-class appearance this season has made his case compelling.

With Crawley also omitted from a 15-strong squad to take on India in the third Test at Headingley, which gets under way on August 25, it's expected that Haseeb Hameed will move up from first drop to open alongside Rory Burns.

Malan will therefore by vying for the No.3 spot with Surrey's Ollie Pope, although there is the possibility that Jonny Bairstow could be shuffled up the order given he has previously batted in the position.

As Kent's Crawley and Sibley return to their respective counties, slow left-armer Jack Leach is set to head back to Somerset but will act as cover for off-spinning allrounder Moeen Ali.

"Zak is still a massive part of our plans moving forward, but we feel he would benefit from time outside the pressure of international competition to get some time working on his skills," said Silverwood.

"He has a bright future and I do not doubt that his time will come again in the Test arena."

Saqib Mahmood was drafted in ahead of the second Test as stand-by after Stuart Broad suffered a series-ending calf injury last week, and the Lancashire seamer, uncapped at Test level, is in contention again.

He could be called upon if Mark Wood fails to recover from injury, with the express paceman hurting his right shoulder on Sunday. 

Wood is the latest fitness worry to a fast bowling line-up already shorn of Broad, Jofra Archer, Chris Woakes and Olly Stone because of injury.

He bowled on Monday and while the medical team are monitoring the situation, England expect Wood to make a full recovery ahead of the next Test.

England squad: Joe Root (c), Moeen Ali, James Anderson, Jonathan Bairstow, Rory Burns, Jos Buttler, Sam Curran, Haseeb Hameed, Dan Lawrence, Saqib Mahmood, Dawid Malan, Craig Overton, Ollie Pope, Ollie Robinson, Mark Wood