Jacob Bethell will be unavailable for the entire England Test series against Pakistan, while both Ollie Pope and Brydon Carse have secured places in the 16‑man roster. England are gearing up for their next assignment after a disappointing defeat to New Zealand and the recent exits of head coach Brendon McCullum and captain Ben Stokes. With Joe Root reinstated as captain following Stokes' retirement from international cricket, the side is eager to turn a new page after a turbulent period both on and off the field.
The new head coach, Stephen Fleming, will not take the reins until after the three‑match series, which kicks off at Headingley on 19 August and will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Cricket. Bethell suffered a knee injury during the ODI series against India in July, an ailment that also forced him out of The Hundred. The injury will keep him on the sidelines for the Pakistan Tests, and Essex wicket‑keeper Jordan Cox will step into the No 3 position, having earned his Test debut earlier this summer.
Pope, who previously served as vice‑captain under Stokes, and Carse have both been recalled to the Test squad for the first time since England’s dismal Ashes tour of Australia last winter. Pope, a Surrey wicket‑keeper‑batter, was dropped after the third Ashes Test after averaging just 20.83 runs across three matches.
Carse returns after missing this year’s IPL due to a hand injury. England’s national selector Marcus North explained that Harry Brook was also slated to remain as Root’s deputy, praising Brook’s leadership as "incredibly important" for the side. North added that Sam Curran had been identified as a potential replacement for the void left by Stokes, and would have been selected if he had been fit.
Additionally, Dan Lawrence has been recalled after a two‑year hiatus from Test cricket and is expected to bat at No 6. "Lawrence returns after an outstanding season with Surrey and brings the experience, maturity and skill we need in the middle order," North said. Regarding Jordan Cox’s promotion, North described it as a "massive opportunity" for the young Essex player. He highlighted Cox’s consistent domestic performances, noting that during his early seasons at Kent he often opened the batting in the County Championship.
"We would not slot him at three unless we believed he could handle the role. He possesses character, competitiveness and a quiet confidence.
We are excited to see how Jordan embraces this chance," North added. North also confirmed that Stephen Fleming has been heavily involved in the selection discussions to ensure that the selectors’ philosophies align with the coach’s vision for the future.
"The selection process remains consistent – we involve Troy Cooley, David Court, Ed Barney, myself, Keesy [Rob] Key, the captain and the coach. All of us provide input, and nothing has changed," he explained. "From the moment Stephen was appointed, I’ve had lengthy conversations with him.
It is essential that our selection criteria and overall strategy are in sync with Stephen’s plans. It would make no sense to proceed through this series with a philosophy that contradicts his long‑term view for the team." During a Sky Sports The Hundred commentary segment, former England T20 and ODI head coach Brendon McCullum was asked whether it felt odd not to be part of a Test squad announcement.
He replied with humour, "I have a bit more time on my hands now. I enjoyed those four years, and now we’re heading in a new direction.
Stephen Fleming will be brilliant – he’s a bit like me, but better. He’ll do an amazing job." McCullum praised the ECB’s recruitment of Fleming, noting the difficulty of securing a coach with global options who is willing to commit to English cricket. "The ECB have done an incredible job bringing someone of his calibre on board. Stephen and I talk every day – we’re close mates and have worked together extensively.
I trust him completely and we have robust conversations about what’s best for English cricket. Our aim is to build a structure that delivers success across Test, ODI and T20 formats, and that will take time." The announced squad includes: - Joe Root (Yorkshire – captain) - Jofra Archer (Sussex) - Gus Atkinson (Surrey) - Shoaib Bashir (Derbyshire) - Harry Brook (Yorkshire) - Brydon Carse (Durham) - Ben Duckett (Nottinghamshire) - Matthew Fisher (Surrey) - Dan Lawrence (Surrey) - Ollie Robinson (Sussex) - Josh Tongue (Nottinghamshire) The three‑match series will be streamed live on Sky Sports Cricket from 19 August, and fans can also watch without a contract via NOW. This series offers England a chance to rebuild confidence, integrate fresh talent like Cox and Lawrence, and begin the transition under Stephen Fleming’s guidance, while aiming to restore pride after recent setbacks on the international stage.