Mark Wood replaces Ollie Robinson as England retains two spinners.

instead fielding an XI that includes only one change – Mark Wood for Ollie Robinson – from the team that lost by five wickets in Ranchi last month.

Given the cold conditions expected in Dharamsala and the fact that the surface for this match is the same as that used when all 36 wickets fell to seam in a recent Ranji Trophy match between Himachal Pradesh and Delhi, speculation in the lead-up to the Test centered on England playing at least one extra seamer.

However, following a final inspection of the wicket by the management team of Ben Stokes, Brendon McCullum, Marcus Trescothick, and Jeetan Patel, England has decided to keep the balance that kept them competitive in Ranchi, with Shoaib Bashir’s offspin alongside Tom Hartley’s left-arm spin.

That is despite a cut to Bashir’s spinning finger received during his 70-over effort in the fourth Test, which England do not believe will detract from his performance. Both he and Robinson did not train on Wednesday due to gastric issues.

Robinson’s exclusion follows a poor performance in the fourth Test, when he developed a back strain while batting in England’s first innings and was not utilized at all in India’s successful run chase. He makes way for Wood, England’s quickest bowler, who was rested in Ranchi following a hard workload in Rajkot.The absence of a specialist third seamer may indicate a return to bowling fitness for England’s skipper, Stokes, who has been increasing his workload in the nets on this trip after undergoing knee surgery over the winter.

England’s attack will be led once more by James Anderson, who will play his fourth straight match of the tour at the age of 41 and needs two more wickets to achieve 700 in Tests.