LONDON
England have announced a 16-man squad for the opening two Tests of the three-match home series against Pakistan, with Jordan Cox set to bat at No. 3 after Jacob Bethell was ruled out through a right knee injury.
Bethell, who had been expected to recover in time for the series, requires a longer rehabilitation period after sustaining the injury during England’s ODI series against India.
His absence opens the door for Cox, who made his Test debut earlier this summer against New Zealand at The Oval, to take up the crucial first-drop position.
Dan Lawrence has earned a recall to the Test side for the first time in two years after an outstanding County Championship campaign with Surrey.
The 28-year-old is expected to bat at No. 6 and provide off-spin, filling the all-round role left vacant following Ben Stokes’ retirement from international cricket.
Ollie Pope returns to the squad as the reserve wicketkeeper-batter after being dropped midway through last winter’s Ashes series, while fast bowler Brydon Carse also makes his comeback after recovering from wrist and elbow injuries that sidelined him at the start of the domestic season.
Seamer Sam Cook has also been recalled after his solitary Test appearance against Zimbabwe last summer. Ollie Robinson, who claimed seven wickets on his return in the opening Test against New Zealand at Lord’s before missing the final two matches of that series, has retained his place.
The squad marks the first selected under newly appointed England head coach Stephen Fleming, who worked alongside Marcus Trescothick during the selection process.
Trescothick will oversee the Pakistan series before Fleming officially takes charge at the end of the English summer.
It will also be Joe Root’s first series since returning as England’s Test captain following Stokes’ retirement. Root begins his second spell as skipper at his home ground of Headingley, where the opening Test starts on August 19.
Cox’s promotion comes after an unfortunate twist of fate that links him with Bethell. In 2024, Cox was due to make his Test debut in New Zealand as wicketkeeper while Jamie Smith was on paternity leave, only to suffer a broken finger during training on the eve of the first Test.
Bethell was drafted into the side and seized the No. 3 position with a series of impressive performances.
Although Cox has batted at No. 3 only once in first-class cricket, he has opened the innings on 30 occasions and is regarded as one of England’s brightest batting prospects.
Lawrence’s return follows an exceptional domestic campaign. He is the second-highest run-scorer in Division One of the County Championship this season, having amassed 788 runs at an average of 65.66 and a strike rate of 80.40.
His five first-class centuries are the most by any player this season, while his useful off-spin allows England to field an additional pace bowler alongside frontline spinner Shoaib Bashir.
Sam Curran was also considered for a recall in the absence of Stokes but was deemed not yet physically ready for a return to Test cricket after an injury-disrupted summer.
National selector Marcus North said the squad strikes the right balance between youth and experience.
“We have selected a squad for the first two Tests that balances rising talent with the experience needed against a quality Pakistan team,” North said.
“Dan Lawrence returns following an exceptional season so far with Surrey and we believe he has the right level of experience, maturity and skill to complement our middle order.
“Jordan Cox is well regarded as one of the most exciting talents in English cricket and will have the opportunity to bat at No. 3 in place of Jacob Bethell, who sadly misses this series through injury.”
England squad for first two Pakistan Tests: Joe Root (c), Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Shoaib Bashir, Harry Brook, Brydon Carse, Sam Cook, Jordan Cox, Ben Duckett, Matthew Fisher, Emilio Gay, Dan Lawrence, Ollie Pope, Ollie Robinson, Jamie Smith and Josh Tongue.
Series schedule:
1st Test: August 19-23 – Headingley
2nd Test: August 27-31 – Lord’s
3rd Test: September 9-13 – Edgbaston.
