Jacob Bethell has been ruled out of England's forthcoming three‑match Test series against Pakistan, while Ollie Pope and fast‑bowler Brydon Carse have secured places in the 16‑man touring party. The decision comes as England regroup after a disappointing defeat to New Zealand and the recent exits of head coach Brendon McCullum and former captain Ben Stokes.
Joe Root, reinstated as captain following Stokes' retirement from international cricket, will lead a side eager to put the recent turmoil behind them. New head coach Stephen Fleming will not take the reins until after the 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 injury that also forced him to miss the Hundred competition.
Medical assessments indicate that he will not recover in time for the Pakistan Tests, meaning Essex wicket‑keeper Jordan Cox will step into the No. 3 batting position. Cox, who earned his Test debut earlier this summer, has been praised for his consistency at the county level and will now have a "massive opportunity" to prove himself on the international stage. Ollie Pope, who previously served as vice‑captain under Stokes, and Brydon Carse are both making a return to the Test set‑up for the first time since England's ill‑fated 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. Carse, meanwhile, is back 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, describing his leadership qualities as "incredibly important" for the side.
North added that Sam Curran had been earmarked as a potential replacement for the all‑round capabilities lost with Stokes' departure, and would have been selected had he been fit. Two years after his last appearance, Dan Lawrence has been recalled to the Test squad and is expected to bat at No.
6. North highlighted Lawrence's outstanding season with Surrey, noting that his experience, maturity and skill set make him a valuable addition to the middle order.
Regarding Jordan Cox's promotion, North said: "This is a guy who has delivered consistent performances in the domestic game. In his first one or two seasons at Kent he was opening the batting in the County Championship. We wouldn't slot him at three if we didn't believe he could handle the responsibility.
He has character, a fierce competitive streak and a quiet confidence that we are excited to see develop at the Test level." The selection process, North confirmed, involved close collaboration with the incoming head coach Stephen Fleming to ensure that the team's strategic philosophy remains aligned. He listed the key figures in the decision‑making chain—Troy Cooley, David Court, Ed Barney, himself, former England coach Rob Key, the captain and the coach—emphasising that the system has remained unchanged despite the recent turnover in leadership. "From the moment Stephen was appointed, I was in regular contact with him," North said. "We needed to make sure our selection criteria and overall vision matched his ideas.
It would make no sense to proceed through this series with a philosophy that contradicts Stephen's long‑term plan for England cricket." Former head coach Brendon McCullum, now England's T20 and ODI coach, was asked by Sky Sports' The Hundred commentary team whether he found it odd not to be involved in the Test squad announcement. He responded with humor, noting he now has "a bit more time on his hands" after four years in the role. McCullum praised Fleming, calling him "a little bit like me, but better" and expressing confidence that Fleming will excel in the position.
"The ECB have done an incredible job securing a coach with global experience and committing him to English cricket for the duration of his contract," McCullum added. "Stephen and I speak daily; we are close friends and have many robust conversations.
Ultimately we both want what's best for English cricket, aiming to build a successful structure across Tests, ODIs and T20s—a process that will take time." The finalized England squad for the Pakistan series 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) - Jordan Cox (Essex) – promoted to No. 3 The three‑match series will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Cricket from 19 August, and fans can also stream the action contract‑free via NOW. This series represents a crucial opportunity for England to reset after a turbulent period, integrate fresh talent, and re‑establish a competitive edge ahead of the summer's remaining fixtures.