England have announced a 16-player squad for the first two Rothesay Test matches against Pakistan. The two-match series will begin at Headingley on 19 August. Dan Lawrence has been recalled to the Test team after two years. He is the second-highest run-scorer in Division One of the Rothesay County Championship this season and is expected to bat at number six.
Jordan Cox will bat at number three for England in the first two Tests against Pakistan. He replaces the injured Jacob Bethell. Cox made his Test debut earlier this summer against New Zealand at the Kia Oval. Bethell sustained a right knee injury during the Metro Bank ODI series against India last month and is set to be sidelined for the entirety of the Rothesay Test Series against Pakistan.
England Recall Dan Lawrence for Pakistan Test Series
Sam Cook has also been included in the squad after playing one Test against Zimbabwe last summer. Brydon Carse and Ollie Pope return to the England Test squad for the first time since last winter’s Ashes series in Australia. Joe Root will captain the Test team in a permanent capacity for the first time since 2022, in front of his home crowd at Headingley.
Marcus North, said: “We have selected a squad for the first two Tests that balances rising talent with the experience needed against a quality Pakistan team. 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 three in place of Jacob Bethell, who sadly misses this series through injury.”
England Men’s Test Squad: Joe Root (captain), 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, Josh Tongue.