The second Test between England and India at Edgbaston, Birmingham began on a solemn note as both teams paid tribute to former England cricketer Wayne Larkins, who passed away recently. In a touching moment before the start of play, players from both sides wore black armbands and observed a minute’s silence to honour the memory of the late batsman.

The gesture showcased the deep respect that the cricketing community holds for its past players. Larkins, who represented England in 13 Tests and 25 ODIs between 1979 and 1991, was known for his attacking strokeplay and solid presence at the top of the order. He enjoyed a prolific domestic career with Northamptonshire and Durham, scoring over 27,000 first-class runs. His contribution to English cricket, especially at the county level, was immense and widely admired.

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The day’s events began under overcast skies, but the respectful atmosphere created by the minute’s silence served as a powerful reminder of the sport's traditions and the individuals who have shaped its history. Wayne Larkins’ passing leaves a void, but his legacy lives on in the hearts of fans and players alike.

ENG vs IND, 2nd Test: No Jasprit Bumrah As England Bowl First In Birmingham

England captain Ben Stokes has won the second consecutive toss of the series at Edgbaston, Birmingham and opted to bowl first. Although England have announced their unchanged XI, India have affected three changes to their XI.

They have brought in Akash Deep, Washington Sundar, Nitish Kumar Reddy for Jasprit Bumrah, B Sai Sudharsan and Shardul Thakur. Gill reasoned the decision to rest Bumrah by claiming they are trying to manage his workload.

England playing XI: Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes(c), Jamie Smith(w), Chris Woakes, Brydon Carse, Josh Tongue, Shoaib Bashir.

Team India XI: Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Karun Nair, Shubman Gill(c), Rishabh Pant(w), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Akash Deep, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna