Joe Root captains England as Dan Lawrence returns and Jacob Bethell misses the entire three-Test series due to a knee injury.
England have confirmed a 16-player squad for the opening two matches of their upcoming three-Test series against Pakistan in the ICC World Test Championship (WTC).
The series, scheduled to begin later this month, will play a significant role in both teams’ campaigns as they seek to improve their positions in the WTC standings.
The squad features a blend of experienced campaigners and emerging talents, with Joe Root set to captain the side following Ben Stokes’ retirement from Test cricket after the recent home series against New Zealand.
Root’s return to the leadership role marks an important transition for England as they prepare for a challenging assignment against Pakistan.
One of the notable inclusions is middle-order batter Dan Lawrence, who returns to England’s Test squad after a gap of two years.
Lawrence has earned a recall following an outstanding County Championship season in which he scored 788 runs in just 13 innings at an impressive average of 65.66. His excellent domestic form convinced the selectors to bring him back into the national setup.
Lawrence has previously represented England in 14 Test matches, accumulating 671 runs, including four half-centuries. His experience, combined with his recent performances, is expected to strengthen England’s batting lineup during the series.
Meanwhile, Jordan Cox has been drafted into the squad as a replacement for Jacob Bethell, who has been ruled out of the entire Pakistan series after suffering a right knee injury during England’s recent series against India.
The injury is a significant setback for the young all-rounder, who will now focus on rehabilitation before returning to international cricket.
England’s squad also includes key names such as Jofra Archer, Harry Brook, Ben Duckett, Gus Atkinson, Shoaib Bashir, Ollie Pope, Jamie Smith, Josh Tongue, Brydon Carse, Ollie Robinson, Sam Cook, Matthew Fisher and Emilio Gay, providing the visitors with a balanced combination of pace, spin and batting depth.
The three-Test contest carries added significance as part of the ICC World Test Championship cycle. England currently occupy seventh place in the WTC standings, while Pakistan sit just behind them in eighth.
A strong performance in the series could prove crucial for either side as they aim to climb the table and keep their hopes alive in the race for a place in the WTC final.
England 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 and Josh Tongue.