LONDON: England has announced its 16-member squad for the first two matches of the upcoming three-match Test series against Pakistan.
Following Ben Stokes’ retirement, Joe Root will lead the team for the first time as permanent Test captain.
The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) revealed the squad for the series beginning August 19, with the opening Test set to be played at Headingley.
The squad features the returns of Dan Lawrence, Ollie Pope, and Sam Cook, alongside young batsman Jordan Cox, who has been recalled and entrusted with the number three batting position.
This opportunity arose due to Jacob Bethell being ruled out of the entire Pakistan series with a knee injury.
Selector Marcus North stated that a balanced squad blending experience and youth has been selected to face a strong team like Pakistan.
Dan Lawrence is slated to bat at number six, while his off-spin bowling will provide an extra tactical option, enabling England to potentially field four frontline fast bowlers.
Spinner Shopee Bashir retains his place in the squad, alongside a fast-bowling lineup featuring Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Matthew Fisher, Ollie Robinson, Brydon Carse, and Sam Cook. Brydon Carse also returns to the Test setup after recovering from an injury.
National Squads
Previously, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced its 16-member national squad for the tours of the West Indies and England.
Pakistan’s squad includes Babar Azam (captain), Aamer Jamal, Abdullah Fazal, Ali Usman, Azan Awais, Imam-ul-Haq, Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Awais Zafar, Mohammad Ghazi Ghori, Sajid Khan, Salman Ali Agha, Saud Shakeel, Shan Masood, and Ubaid Shah.
