The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has announced a power-packed 17-member squad for the upcoming three-match Test series against Pakistan, set to begin in October. The biggest news for fans is the return of skipper Ben Stokes, who has recovered from an injury sustained during The Hundred while representing Northern Superchargers.
Stokes’ leadership will be key, and he’ll have plenty of spin support with Rehan Ahmed, Shoaib Bashir and Jack Leach chosen to tackle the turning pitches of Pakistan. For England’s pace attack, the likes of Josh Hull, Chris Woakes, Olly Stone and Matthew Potts have also been named to give the squad a well-rounded bowling lineup.
Brydon Carse and Jordan Cox Get First England Test Call-Ups
In an exciting twist, Brydon Carse and Jordan Cox have earned their first-ever Test call-ups. Carse, who has played for England’s ODI and T20I teams, will now make his debut in the red-ball format, while Essex’s Jordan Cox is set to take his first steps into international cricket across all formats.
The ECB confirmed:
Durham fast bowler Brydon Carse and Essex batter Jordan Cox are the only uncapped players in the squad. Captain Ben Stokes, who missed the recent series win over Sri Lanka, is also included as he recovers from a hamstring injury.
Full Squad for Pakistan Tests
Ben Stokes (C), Rehan Ahmed, Gus Atkinson, Shoaib Bashir, Harry Brook, Brydon Carse, Jordan Cox, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Josh Hull, Jack Leach, Ollie Pope, Matthew Potts, Joe Root, Jamie Smith, Olly Stone, Chris Woakes
England’s Adil Rashid Relishes His Trip to Azad Kashmir
When Does England vs Pakistan Test Series Begin?
The series kicks off on October 7 in Multan, with subsequent matches in Karachi and Rawalpindi. If all three Tests go the full distance, the tour will conclude on October 28.
