Jonny Bairstow, Sam Curran and Mark Wood rested for first two India Tests

Jofra Archer, Ben Stokes and Rory Burns missed the ongoing tour of Sri Lanka, but all three have been named in a 16-man squad for the first half of the series

Ben Stokes, Jofra Archer and Rory Burns will return to England action in the first two Tests of the four-match series against India.

The trio missed the ongoing tour of Sri Lanka, but all three have been named in a 16-man squad for the first half of the series, which sees Jonny Bairstow, Sam Curran and Mark Wood rested.

At the start of the winter, chief selector Ed Smith set out that all multi-format players would be given a block rest spell post-Christmas in order to help them cope with the long periods spent on tour and in bio-secure bubbles over the last 12 months.

He hinted in December that further changes would be made to the squad following the first two Tests.

For one, Jos Buttler will return home after the first Test in India, opening the door for Ben Foakes to keep wicket. Gloucestershire's James Bracey - a member of the reserve list - will be the other wicketkeeping option for the second Test. Bairstow, Curran and Wood will all return for the final two Tests.

Ollie Pope, who travelled to Sri Lanka with the squad to continue his rehabilitation from the shoulder injury he suffered against Pakistan in August, will once again accompany the squad to India and will be added to the playing group once passed fit.

Otherwise, there is no further movement from the main squad. Moeen Ali is included following his recovery from Covid-19.

^{Jofra Archer returns after being rested for the tour of Sri Lanka}

Among England’s reserves, Bracey retains his place, as do spinners Matt Parkinson, Mason Crane and Amar Virdi, as well as seamers Saqib Mahmood and Ollie Robinson.

However, Somerset allrounder Craig Overton will return home following the Sri Lanka series, subject to the fitness of the rest of the squad.

Squad: Joe Root (c), Jofra Archer, Moeen Ali, James Anderson, Dom Bess, Stuart Broad, Rory Burns, Jos Buttler, Zak Crawley, Ben Foakes, Dan Lawrence, Jack Leach, Dom Sibley, Ben Stokes, Olly Stone, Chris Woakes

Reserves: James Bracey, Mason Crane, Saqib Mahmood, Matthew Parkinson, Ollie Robinson, Amar Virdi

^{Main image: SLC}