Jacob Bethell will be unavailable for the entire England Test series against Pakistan, while Ollie Pope and Brydon Carse have secured places in the 16‑man group. England are gearing up for their next assignment after a disappointing loss 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 looking to turn a new page after a turbulent period both on and off the field. Stephen Fleming, the newly appointed England head coach, will not take charge 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 England's One‑Day International series against India in July, an ailment that also ruled him out of The Hundred. The injury will keep him sidelined for the Pakistan Tests, prompting Essex wicket‑keeper Jordan Cox to step into the No 3 position. Cox, who made his Test debut earlier this summer, has been rewarded with a promotion in the batting order. Pope, who previously served as vice‑captain under Stokes, and Carse are back in the Test set‑up 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 when his average across the series fell to 20.83 runs. Carse, meanwhile, returns after withdrawing from this year’s IPL due to a hand injury.
National selector Marcus North explained that Harry Brook was also slated to remain as Root’s deputy, praising his leadership as "incredibly important". North added that Sam Curran had been identified as a potential replacement for the void left by Stokes, and would have been selected had he been fit. Additionally, Dan Lawrence has been recalled after a two‑year hiatus from Test cricket; he is expected to bat at No 6, with North noting Lawrence’s outstanding season with Surrey and his blend of experience, maturity and skill.
Regarding the inclusion of Jordan Cox, 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 with Kent he often opened the County Championship innings.
North emphasized that the decision to slot Cox at No 3 was based on confidence in his ability, character and competitive nature. The selection process, North confirmed, involved close collaboration with the incoming head coach Stephen Fleming to ensure alignment of philosophies.
He listed the broader group influencing decisions – Troy Cooley, David Court, Ed Barney, himself, Keesy Rob Key, the captain and the coach – and stressed that Fleming had been consulted from the moment of his appointment. "We have to make sure our selection and our philosophies are absolutely aligned with Stephen’s vision," North said, warning against any divergence that could undermine the team's direction.
Former England T20 and ODI head coach Brendon McCullum, now absent from the Test squad announcement, joked that he now has "a bit more time on his hands". He praised Fleming, calling him "a little bit like me, but better" and expressed confidence that Fleming will excel. McCullum lauded the ECB for securing a coach with global experience and said his daily conversations with Fleming are grounded in mutual trust and a shared goal of advancing English cricket across all three formats. 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, with additional streaming options available through NOW without a contract.
Fans are encouraged to use Chrome for optimal video playback. This series represents a crucial test for England as they seek to rebuild momentum, integrate fresh talent like Cox and Lawrence, and solidify a cohesive strategy under the guidance of both Root and the incoming coach Fleming. The combination of experienced hands and emerging players aims to restore confidence and set a foundation for future success across Test, ODI and T20 formats.