England have dropped batsman Joe Denly for the second Test against the West Indies.
Captain Joe Root returns at Old Trafford following the arrival of his second child, while 34-year-old Denly will not be involved.
An average of 29.53 after 15 Tests, with no centuries, left the Kent batsman vulnerable and a confident knock of 76 from county teammate Zak Crawley effectively sealed his fate.
“It’s never an easy decision, never easy having to leave someone out,” Root said.
“With Joe over a period of time he’s done a brilliant job for us, he’s helped show our identity as a side and how we played moving forward. It’s a very difficult decision but we’ve gone a different way.
“You watch Zak’s progression since he’s been involved in the team, his game has continued to get stronger.
“Joe is someone who has done a fantastic job for us over a period of time and he’ll be as frustrated as anyone that he’s not been able to covert those opportunities.”
England are one down in the three-Test series after falling to a four-wicket defeat in Southampton in the opener.
Root’s return will see him skipper the side once again after Ben Stokes deputised last week.
