England National Cricket Selectors have named the following 12-man squad for the first Test match against Pakistan at Lord’s starting on Thursday May 24.
Somerset spinner Dom Bess has been included in the squad for the first time.
Lancashire batsman Jos Buttler returns to the Test squad for the first time since December 2016 when he played in the fifth Test against India in Chennai.
Bess, the 20-year-old off spinner, has played 16 first-class matches and was impressive in the Champion County match for the MCC against Essex in March where he took eight wickets in the match and scored a valuable century in defeating the County Champions in Barbados.
Commenting on the selection of Bess and Buttler, National Selector Ed Smith, said:
“Dom Bess has made an excellent start to his first-class career. He has impressed everyone with his performances for Somerset and when he has been given opportunities with England representative teams. With Jack Leach missing out due to injury, the selection panel wanted to invest opportunity in a young spin bowler. Dom’s strong form, character and all-round abilities presented a compelling case for selection.
“Jos Buttler is an outstanding talent, who is already a central part of England’s white ball teams. The selection panel feels that this is the perfect moment to reintroduce Jos to Test cricket, where he has already enjoyed some success, including a stint playing as a specialist batsman at number seven. Jos is playing with great confidence and flair, and he will bring unique qualities to the Test team.”
England have awarded incremental contracts to Surrey’s Tom Curran and Middlesex’s Dawid Malan for their performances during the 2017-18 contract year.
Squad: Joe Root (Captain), Jimmy Anderson, Jonny Bairstow (Wicket-keeper), Dom Bess, Stuart Broad, Jos Buttler, Alastair Cook, Dawid Malan, Ben Stokes, Mark Stoneman & Chris Woakes, Mark Wood.