England drop Ali with Leach recalled for second Test

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England have dropped Moeen Ali and replaced him in the squad with slow left-armer Jack Leach for the second Ashes Test against Australia at Lord’s.

Off-spinner Moeen returned match figures of 3-172 and scored only four runs in the 251-run defeat in the first Test at Edgbaston.

Jofra Archer is likely to make his Test debut, with pace bowlers James Anderson and Olly Stone missing through injury.

The second Test of the five-match series begins on 14 August.

Leach, who has played five Tests, was man of the match when England beat Ireland at Lord’s in July after making 92 as a night-watchman.

Archer was named in the squad for the first Test but was left out of the team to give him more time to recover from a side strain.

He took 6-27 and hit a 99-ball century for Sussex 2nd XI this week.

Anderson bowled only four overs at Edgbaston after aggravating a right calf injury, while Stone will be out for two weeks with a lower back injury.

England, who trail the series 1-0, have not lost a home Ashes series since 2001.

England squad for second Ashes Test: Joe Root (capt), Jofra Archer, Jonny Bairstow (wk), Stuart Broad, Rory Burns, Jos Buttler (wk), Sam Curran, Joe Denly, Jack Leach, Jason Roy, Ben Stokes, Chris Woakes.

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