Dom Bess ruthlessly axed as England chase perfection in India

The tourists were already committed to two alterations to the side which completed a famous 227-run win in the series opener, with Jos Buttler sent back home for a break and Jofra Archer ruled out with an elbow injury.

Ben Foakes and Stuart Broad were already inked in to take those places and they will be joined by Moeen Ali, who takes over from fellow off-spinner Bess, as well as one of Chris Woakes or Olly Stone. It represents fairly radical surgery to a team which turned in one of England’s most complete away performances only a matter of days ago.

With matches coming thick and fast in the current schedule the rotation policy which sees Anderson join Buttler in standing down from a game he might otherwise have played is seen by the captain Joe Root and head coach Chris Silverwood as a pragmatic one, but there is an element of ruthlessness in Bess’ axeing.

The 23-year-old has taken 17 wickets in England’s three Tests this year, including India captain Virat Kohli in the previous match, but has been inconsistent and appeared to dramatically lose his radar in the second innings.

That has ultimately cost him his shirt, with Moeen set for a first Test since August 2019.

Root admitted taking Bess out of the firing line had not been easy. “It was a very difficult conversation,” he said. “When it’s someone like Dom who has contributed well and gives absolutely everything. It’s been made very clear what he needs to go away and work on.”

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