Jordan Cox is set to bat at No. 3 for England in the upcoming three-Test series against Pakistan, following Jacob Bethell’s withdrawal due to a right knee injury.
Dan Lawrence has also earned a recall to the Test side for the first time in two years. He is expected to bat at No. 6 after an impressive start to the County Championship season. His off-spin could help England fill the allrounder role left open after Ben Stokes’ international retirement, while Rehan Ahmed has not been selected.
Cox and Lawrence are included in England’s 16-member squad for the first two Tests of the series, announced on Thursday morning. Ollie Pope returns as the reserve wicketkeeper-batter after being dropped during last winter’s Ashes. Brydon Carse is also back in contention after wrist and elbow injuries kept him out at the start of the domestic season.
Fast bowler Sam Cook has returned after making a single appearance against Zimbabwe last summer. Ollie Robinson, who missed the final two Tests against New Zealand despite claiming seven wickets in a standout performance at Lord’s, has also been named in the squad.
New England head coach Stephen Fleming played a role in the selection process alongside Marcus Trescothick, who will manage the series before Fleming officially takes charge at the end of the summer.
The Pakistan series will also be Joe Root’s first as Test captain since returning to the role following Stokes’ departure. Root, who stepped down as full-time captain in 2022, will begin his new stint at his home venue, Headingley, where the first Test starts on August 19.
England were hopeful that Bethell would recover in time after missing The Hundred because of a knee issue suffered during the ODI series against India. However, he needs additional recovery time, opening the door for Cox to take the No. 3 position. Cox made his Test debut at No. 7 earlier this summer during the second Test against New Zealand at The Oval.
The opportunity brings Cox’s journey alongside Bethell full circle. In 2024, Cox was expected to keep wicket on England’s New Zealand tour while Jamie Smith was on paternity leave. However, a finger injury in the nets before the first Test ruled him out, allowing Bethell to make his debut at No. 3. Bethell then established himself in that role over the winter. Cox has batted at No. 3 only once in first-class cricket, although he has opened in 30 innings for Kent.
Lawrence returns after spending time outside the Test setup. He last played in three of his 14 Tests as an opener against Sri Lanka during the 2024 season. This County Championship campaign, he is Division One’s second-highest run scorer, with 788 runs at an average of 65.66 and a strike rate of 80.40.
He has scored five first-class centuries this season, more than any other player. His ability to bowl finger spin could give England the flexibility to include an extra fast bowler, while Shoaib Bashir remains the side’s main specialist spinner.
Sam Curran was considered for a return in Stokes’ absence but was not viewed as physically prepared for Test cricket following an injury-affected summer. James Rew and Sonny Baker, both of whom made their debuts at The Oval in June, have not been selected.
“We have selected a squad for the first two Tests that balances rising talent with the experience needed against a quality Pakistan team,” England national selector Marcus North said.
“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 No. 3 in place of Jacob Bethell, who sadly misses this series through injury.”
England Test Series vs Pakistan
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, Josh Tongue.
Pakistan squad: Babar Azam (captain), Aamir Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Ali Usman, Azan Awais, Imam ul-Haq, Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Ali, Mohammad Rizwan, Muhammad Awais Zafar, Muhammad Ghazi Ghori, Sajid Khan, Salman Ali Agha, Saud Shakeel, Shan Masood, Ubaid Shah.
Fixtures:
- 1st Test: August 19–23, Headingley
- 2nd Test: August 27–31, Lord’s
- 3rd Test: September 9–13, Edgbaston