ENG vs PAK: England announce squad for first two Tests against Pakistan; Big names return
(Courtesy : ECB)
Injured Jacob Bethell has been ruled out of the ENG vs PAK Test series.
England are scheduled to host Pakistan for a three-match Test series in August and September 2027. It will be the start of a new era for England. Joe Root is back as Test captain for his second stint.
Meanwhile, Stephen Fleming has been appointed as the new head coach of the Test team. After the retirement of Ben Stokes, England will play their first Test series. The first Test is scheduled to start on August 19 (Wednesday) at Headingley in Leeds.
Meanwhile, the next two Tests will be played at Lord’s and Edgbaston, respectively. The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has announced a 16-member squad for the first two Tests.
There are some surprise calls, and some big guns have returned to the squad. Notably, England are currently in seventh place in the World Test Championship 2025-27.
Jacob Bethell ruled out; Pope, Lawrence return to the Test squad
Root will lead the star-studded lineup. Star batter Jacob Bethell has been ruled out of the squad. Bethell is currently injured and is also not part of the ongoing Hundred Men’s 2026. As a result, England have called back Ollie Pope as the backup.
Apart from him, Dan Lawrence is back in the Test squad after two years. His last Test appearance was at the Oval in September 2024 against Sri Lanka. He will bat at No. 6 for England, and Jamie Smith will switch to No. 7 in the batting lineup.
Jordan Cox has retained his position in the squad. He recently made his Test debut in the Test series against New Zealand. He will bat at No. 3 for England. Pacers Sam Cook and Brydon Carse are also back in the squad.
Rehan Ahmed is the name that is missing from the squad that played against New Zealand. England are looking to revamp their Test status and improve their stats in the ongoing WTC cycle. On the other hand, Pakistan are coming off a 1-1 result in the Test series against West Indies.
England squad for the first two ENG vs PAK Tests:
Joe Root (C), Harry Brook, Jofra Archer, Ben Duckett, Gus Atkinson, Shoaib Bashir, Brydon Carse, Matthew Fisher, Emilio Gay, Sam Cook, Jordan Cox, Ollie Pope, Ollie Robinson, Dan Lawrence, Jamie Smith (wk), Josh Tongue.
When will the first Test between England and Pakistan start?
The first ENG vs PAK Test will begin at Headingley on August 19.
Who is the current captain of the English Test side?
Joe Root has replaced Ben Stokes as the new Test captain.
For more updates, follow Khel Now Cricket on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Youtube; download the Khel Now Android App or IOS App and join our community on Whatsapp & Telegram.
Karan Rawat is a seasoned cricket writer with a deep passion for the game and over 5 years of experience covering everything that the game can offer. He loves to share the analysis, match reports, and player profiles and tries to bring stories to life with a unique blend of statistics and storytelling. Whether breaking down Test match tactics or capturing the drama of a T20 thriller, Karan's work connects fans with the soul of the sport.