England drop Jennings, call up Denly for second Windies test

Cricket - England Nets - Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, North Sound, Antigua and Barbuda - January 30, 2019 England's Joe Denly and Ben Stokes during nets Action Images via Reuters/Paul Childs

(Reuters) - England opener Keaton Jennings has been dropped for the second test against West Indies in Antigua, with Joe Denly set to be drafted into the side to make his test debut at the age of 32.

Left-hander Jennings lost his place in the team after scoring 17 and 14 as England were beaten by 381 runs in the first test in Barbados, with captain Joe Root saying the 26-year-old would continue to work on developing his game.

"It gives Joe an opportunity," Root said. "It's disappointing for Keaton, he's done some excellent things and he will continue to... be a big part of this squad."

FILE PHOTO: Cricket - West Indies v England - First Test - Kensington Oval, Bridgetown, Barbados - January 26, 2019 England's Keaton Jennings in action Action Images via Reuters/Paul Childs

Kent right-hander Denly was part of England's squad for their last test series in Sri Lanka but never played.

Pace bowler Stuart Broad and left-arm spinner Jack Leach, who both sat out the first test, are also in contention having been named in Root's 12-man squad for the second test, which starts on Thursday.

Cricket - England Nets - Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, North Sound, Antigua and Barbuda - January 30, 2019 England's Joe Root and Rory Burns during nets Action Images via Reuters/Paul Childs

England squad: Rory Burns, Joe Denly, Jonny Bairstow, Joe Root (captain), Jos Buttler, Ben Stokes, Moeen Ali, Ben Foakes, Sam Curran, Stuart Broad, Jimmy Anderson, Jack Leach.

(Reporting by Simon Jennings in Bengaluru, editing by Pritha Sarkar)

Cricket - England Nets - Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, North Sound, Antigua and Barbuda - January 30, 2019 England's Joe Root, Stuart Broad and James Anderson during nets Action Images via Reuters/Paul Childs

Cricket - England Nets - Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, North Sound, Antigua and Barbuda - January 30, 2019 England's Stuart Broad during nets Action Images via Reuters/Paul Childs

Cricket - England Nets - Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, North Sound, Antigua and Barbuda - January 30, 2019 England national selector Ed Smith and Joe Root during nets Action Images via Reuters/Paul Childs

Cricket - England Nets - Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, North Sound, Antigua and Barbuda - January 30, 2019 England's Joe Root during nets Action Images via Reuters/Paul Childs