• England have lost the first two games of their Twenty20 series against India
  • India have enjoyed much success utilising their vast array of spin bowlers 
  • Mark Wood, Jofra Archer, Brydon Carse, Jamie Overton will be England’s quicks

By RICHARD GIBSON

England are retaining their faith in pace getting them back into the Twenty20 series against India after naming an unchanged team for tomorrow’s pivotal third match.

India used five spinners when they went 2-0 up in a nailbiter in Chennai on Saturday, but England coach Brendon McCullum is intent on sticking to his own squad’s strengths. 

That means the 90-mile-per-hour pair of Mark Wood and Jofra Archer will be supported by seam-bowling all-rounders Brydon Carse and Jamie Overton, with Adil Rashid the only frontline spinner. 

Jacob Bethell, absent at the weekend through illness, is fit again but Jamie Smith retains his place at No 6, meaning Liam Livingstone’s mixture of leg and off-breaks represent England’s only other bowling option. 

England must win here – against a team that has lost just four its most recent 39 completed matches – to keep the series alive. 

Meanwhile, despite defeat in the second match on Saturday, England captain Jos Buttler had chosen to look at the positives.

England have name an unchanged team for Tuesday’s pivotal third Twenty20 against India

Brendon McCullum has chosen to keep faith with his pace-heavy attack despite two defeats

Brendon McCullum has chosen to keep faith with his pace-heavy attack despite two defeats

India used five spinners when they went 2-0 up in a nailbiter in Chennai on Saturday

India used five spinners when they went 2-0 up in a nailbiter in Chennai on Saturday

‘It was a great game, really exciting,’ he said. ‘We created a lot of chances and were really aggressive, we pushed them close.

‘I’m pleased with how we went about it with the bat, we took the game on and got up to what was nearly a defendable.’

Buttler had earlier starred for England with the bat again, striking 45 off 30 balls, although Carse was probably the standout player for the tourists.

The Durham quick crashed 31 off 17 balls to guide England up to a respectable 165-9, before he impressed with the ball by taking 3-29.

That came amid England’s other quicks struggling in Chennai, with Archer conceding the most expensive figures of his T20 career as he went for 60 runs in his four overs.

England XI for third T20: Salt (wk), Duckett, Buttler (c), Brook, Livingstone, Smith, Overton, Carse, Archer, Rashid, Wood

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England name unchanged team for pivotal third T20 against India – as Brendon McCullum retains his faith in pace despite back-to-back losses

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