England axe Finn and Ball for 2nd Test

Manchester - England captain Alastair Cook announced on Thursday that the hosts had reduced their squad for the second Test against Pakistan from 14 to 12 after dropping Steven Finn and Jake Ball.

The fast bowlers, who both played in England's 75-run defeat by Pakistan in the first Test at Lord's, were released ahead of the second Test, which starts at Old Trafford on Friday.

Now fit-again fast bowler James Anderson (shoulder) and all-rounder Ben Stokes (knee), who both didn't play at Lord's, are set to make their Test return in Manchester.

England's decision means they could give a home debut to leg-spinner Adil Rashid, all of whose three Test appearances to date were away to Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates last year.

Revised England squad:

Alastair Cook (captain), Alex Hales, Joe Root, James Vince, Gary Ballance, Jonny Bairstow (wkt), Ben Stokes, Moeen Ali, Chris Woakes, Adil Rashid, Stuart Broad, James Anderson

Probable Pakistan squad:

Mohammad Hafeez, Shan Masood, Azhar Ali, Younis Khan, Misbah-ul-Haq (captain), Asad Shafiq, Sarfraz Ahmed (wkt), Wahab Riaz, Mohammad Amir, Yasir Shah, Rahat Ali