Joe Root has defended the decision to drop Ollie Pope just three innings into his Test career, insisting the call was based solely on tactics and that the 20-year-old must buy into the squad mentality the captain is trying to foster.

Doubts over the ability of Ben Stokes to bowl his usual workloads, amid a continuing knee problem, have led to England bolstering their attack for the fourth Test against India starting on Thursday, a match that could see the hosts wrap up the series with a game to spare.

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Moeen Ali is restored as an all-rounder at No 7 – his first Test outing since the winter tour of New Zealand – while Pope’s Surrey teammate Sam Curran comes back after missing the 203-run defeat at Trent Bridge, taking the place of Chris Woakes following the recurrence of a thigh injury for the Warwickshire player.

Pope, who appeared too high at No 4 and made scores of 28, 10 and 16, has been told to draw inspiration from his replacement, Moeen, forcing his way back in with a double century and eight wickets for Worcestershire against Yorkshire last week, and from Curran’s swift return.

“I think [Pope] is a very good player who has shown a lot of promise in his international start,” Root said. “The thinking is purely for the balance of the side. It is no reflection on how he has gone in the first two games. We could get to the Oval and it’ll be very different again – that is being a part of a squad. At all times, you’re not far away from playing. It doesn’t just take 11 guys to win a series.”

Quick guide England squad to face India in the fourth Test Show Hide Alastair Cook, Keaton Jennings, Joe Root (capt), Jonny Bairstow, Ben Stokes, Jos Buttler (wk), Moeen Ali, Sam Curran, Adil Rashid, Stuart Broad, James Anderson.

Pope is remaining with the squad until Friday’s toss as a precaution but all being well with England he will then travel to the Oval to join the Surrey team playing Nottinghamshire in the County Championship, and be subbed into the Division One leaders’ side.

Moeen and Curran represent two changes to the XI but there is also a switch in wicketkeeper, with Jos Buttler retaining the gloves he took over in the middle of the Trent Bridge Test and remaining at No 6, while Jonny Bairstow plays as a specialist batsman at No 4 as he looks to block out the pain of a left middle finger he fractured at Nottingham. Stokes, meanwhile, will bat between them in the reshuffled order.

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It is clear that England are leaning towards Buttler keeping wicket in the long term, too. Root said: “There are no guarantees in international sport. It has opened the door for someone else. Jos has an opportunity for this game and potentially the rest of the series and I think that’s a good thing in terms of development for this group.”

Asked if Buttler covets the role he already performs for the one-day side, Root replied: “Yes, I think so. If you’re an international keeper you want to be doing it all the time. We’re very fortunate to have two fantastic options in Jos and Jonny. Jonny is obviously frustrated and disappointed as he loves doing the job. He’s done extremely well over the last couple of years. But that’s part of international sport. You don’t always get what you want.”“I think he’s more than capable of batting in the top four. He’s in fine form, he’s had a fantastic 12 months home and away. He’s played some crucial knocks for England in all formats. He’s growing as a player all the time and it’s just another opportunity for him to go and show how good he is and how adaptable he is and put us in front of the game.”