Why is Jacob Bethell not part of England squad for ENG vs PAK Test series?
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Jacob Bethell’s absence from England squad for ENG vs PAK Test series raised quite a few eyebrows.
The much-awaited Test series between England and Pakistan is all set to begin in a couple of weeks’ time. These two sides will face each other in a three-match series, which is scheduled to start on August 19 (Wednesday).
The first Test will be played at Headingley in Leeds. Pakistan have already announced their squad for the series. Babar Azam will lead the visitors. They will be coming into the series on the back of a 1-1 draw in West Indies.
Meanwhile, this will be the first Test series for Joe Root since becoming the Test captain for the second time. On the other hand, newly appointed head coach Stephen Fleming will miss the series and Marcus Trescothick will serve as interim Head Coach.
The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) announced the 16-member squad for the first two Test matches, and it has some notable changes to the squad that played the last series against New Zealand.
Why is Jacob Bethell not part of the ENG vs PAK test series?
Dan Lawrence has made his return to the Test squad since September 2024, while Ollie Pope, Brydon Carse, and Sam Cook also are back. Ben Stokes is retired, and Rehan Ahmed has been dropped.
However, one name thing that caught attention of many was absence of Jacob Bethell. The Southpaw is considered the next big star in English cricket and is one of the youngest English batters to score a century in all three formats.
His last international appearance came against India in the third ODI at Lord’s, where he won the Man of the Match award. However, him not being picked is a forced decision because the 22-year-old is currently injured.
Bethell picked up a knee injury during the final ODI against India. He was forced to withdraw from the Hundred Men’s 2026, where he was set to make his captaincy debut with Birmingham Phoenix.
As a result, Jordan Cox is expected to bat at no. 3 for England in the upcoming series. The first test will be played in Leeds, and the other two matches will start on August 27 and September 9 at Lord’s and Edgbaston, respectively.
When will the first Test between England and Pakistan start?
The first ENG vs PAK Test will begin at Headingley on August 19.
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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.