England have unveiled a 16-member squad for the opening two Tests against Pakistan, with Ollie Pope, Brydon Carse and Dan Lawrence making their return to the red-ball setup. The squad also confirms a major setback for Jacob Bethell, who has been ruled out of the entire three-match series after suffering a knee injury during England’s ODI campaign against India.
The upcoming series, which begins on August 19 at Headingley, will usher in a new chapter for England’s Test team. It will be their first assignment following Ben Stokes‘ retirement and Brendon McCullum‘s departure as Test coach. Joe Root returns as England’s full-time Test captain, while Marcus Trescothick will serve as interim head coach before Stephen Fleming officially takes charge later this year.
Ollie Pope, Brydon Carse and Dan Lawrence return as England reshuffle batting order
England’s selectors have rewarded several players for strong performances and successful recoveries. Pope is back in the Test squad after being left out following England’s Ashes defeat in Australia, while fast bowler Brydon Carse also returns after recovering from injury. Lawrence’s inclusion is one of the biggest talking points. The Surrey batter has forced his way back into the national side after an exceptional County Championship season, where he has emerged as one of Division One’s leading run-scorers. The 29-year-old is expected to occupy the No. 6 position in the batting order.
His return also prompts a slight reshuffle, with wicketkeeper-batter Jamie Smith likely to move down to No. 7 after batting one place higher during England’s recent Test series against New Zealand. Jordan Cox, who made his Test debut at The Oval earlier this summer, is now set for an even bigger responsibility. He is expected to slot in at No. 3 as England’s replacement for the injured Bethell.
Jacob Bethell injury forces change as Sam Cook earns another opportunity
Bethell’s absence comes as a significant blow for England. The young batter injured his right knee during the ODI series against India last month, and medical assessments have ruled him out of the entire Pakistan series.
Fast bowler Sam Cook has also earned a recall after making his Test debut against Zimbabwe last year. His return strengthens England’s pace attack alongside Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Josh Tongue, Matthew Fisher and Ollie Robinson. Meanwhile, leg-spinner Rehan Ahmed has missed out on selection, while former captain Stokes is naturally absent following his retirement from international cricket.
The three-match series against Pakistan carries added importance as part of the ICC World Test Championship 2025-27 cycle. England currently occupy seventh place in the standings, while Pakistan sit one spot below in eighth after recently drawing level in their Test series against the West Indies. The opening Test will be played at Headingley from August 19, followed by the second Test at Lord’s beginning August 27. The series finale is scheduled to take place at Edgbaston from September 9.
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England squad for the first two Tests against Pakistan
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.
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