England has announced the recall of Dan Lawrence to their Test squad for the upcoming series against Pakistan, marking his return after a two-year absence from the format. The 29-year-old batsman is expected to step into the middle-order position left vacant by the retirement of former captain Ben Stokes.
National selector Marcus North revealed a 16-man squad for the first two matches of the three-Test series, with Lawrence confirmed to bat at number six. Additionally, Jordan Cox has been included to replace the injured Jacob Bethell and will take on the number three batting position. The first Test is scheduled to begin at Headingley on August 19, with Joe Root leading the team after being appointed captain for a second time.
Lawrence's last Test appearance came in September 2024, when he played as an opener against Sri Lanka. Since then, he has been absent from the international scene but has demonstrated remarkable form in the County Championship this season, boasting an impressive average of over 65 and scoring five centuries.
Cox, who made his Test debut against New Zealand at the Oval in June, steps in for Bethell, who is sidelined due to injury. His debut came under unusual circumstances, as he replaced Stokes, who was dropped from the squad after breaching team curfew rules.
In another notable inclusion, fast bowler Brydon Carse returns to the squad after missing the recent 2-1 series loss to New Zealand due to a right-hand injury. The team will also see the return of former vice-captain Ollie Pope, who had been dropped following a series of disappointing performances during the 4-1 Ashes defeat in Australia.
Marcus Trescothick will serve as the interim head coach for this series, with former New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming set to take over the role from Brendon McCullum as England's red-ball coach. Meanwhile, off-spinner Shoaib Bashir has retained his place in the squad, though it remains uncertain whether England will field a specialist slow bowler in Leeds.
England's recent Test performance has been concerning, having lost seven of their last nine matches and failing to secure a series win since December 2024. North emphasized the importance of balancing emerging talent with seasoned experience in the squad, especially against a formidable Pakistan team, which recently drew a two-Test series 1-1 with the West Indies.
“We have selected a squad for the first two Tests that balances rising talent with the experience needed against a quality Pakistan team,” North stated. He expressed confidence in Lawrence's ability to contribute effectively to the middle order, citing his exceptional season with Surrey as a key factor in his selection. North also praised Cox as one of the most exciting prospects in English cricket, highlighting the opportunity he has to make an impact in the series.
The full England squad for the first two Tests includes: Ben Duckett, Emilio Gay, Jordan Cox, Joe Root (captain), Harry Brook, Dan Lawrence, Jamie Smith (wicketkeeper), Gus Atkinson, Brydon Carse, Jofra Archer, Josh Tongue, Shoaib Bashir, Sam Cook, Matthew Fisher, Ollie Pope, and Ollie Robinson.
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