Jake Ball added to England Test squad for Bangladesh tour as ECB overhaul central contract system

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Jonathan Hunn29 September 2016

Nottinghamshire pace bowler Jake Ball has been added to England’s Test squad to tour Bangladesh after James Anderson and Mark Wood were forced out following recurrence of recent injuries.

Anderson, who is England’s all-time leading Test wicket-taker, sustained a stress fracture during the home series against Sri Lanka in June, although he did play three Tests against Pakistan in July and August.

An ECB statement released today said: “He [Anderson] requires more time to ensure optimal healing of a stress fracture he sustained during the summer.”

Durham seamer Wood has suffered a recurrence of a problem he has had with his left ankle and has been replaced by Middlesex’s Steven Finn in the one-day squad. The ECB said the selectors would consider a further replacement in addition to Ball at a later date if deemed necessary.

England play three one-day internationals, starting next Tuesday, followed by Tests in Chittagong from October 20 and Dhaka from October 28 before they begin a tour of India, which includes five Tests, the first of which starts on November 9.

Meanwhile, the ECB have overhauled their central contract system. The new arrangement splits the senior international group into Test and limited-overs specialists — the most significant restructure since since central contracting was introduced 14 years ago.

Four players — batsman Joe Root and all-rounders Ben Stokes, Chris Woakes and Moeen Ali — have been included in both pools.

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