Joe Root’s first squad in his second coming as England Test captain has a real back to the future feel about it.
In recalling Surrey’s Dan Lawrence to bat at six against Pakistan at Leeds in a fortnight, it feels like a throwback to the tour of the Caribbean in the spring of 2022, Root’s previous series in charge.
Ollie Pope, Ollie Robinson and Matthew Fisher all featured in the squad during that 1-0 defeat to West Indies and their inclusions again indicate Root’s trust in them. A captain always gets the players he wants, particularly at the start of a reign.
It has been a case of needs must, however. A side already robbed of its balancing all-rounder with Ben Stokes’ retirement will now also be missing another crucial component in its No 3 Jacob Bethell, ruled out of Tests until the Christmas clashes with South Africa due to a knee injury.
Jordan Cox slots into that role against Babar Azam’s team, having made his debut against New Zealand at The Oval in June as Stokes’ replacement at No 7.
Despite the shift up the order, Cox’s retention shows continuity in selection, but it is something of a surprise that Ollie Pope returns as the squad’s spare batsman so soon after his axing.
Joe Root’s first squad in his second coming as Test captain has a throwback feel about it
Ollie Pope has returned to England’s Test squad to face Pakistan in Jacob Bethell’s absence
While his county colleague Lawrence has knocked the door down with five County Championship hundreds, earning the chance to resurrect a Test career the last leg of which came two years ago as an opener versus Sri Lanka, Pope’s recall comes on the back of just one in what has nevertheless been a solid 2026 – averaging 54 in Division One.
Former Test vice captain Pope lost his place to Bethell during last winter’s Ashes, but was name checked as a player with the ability to come again by England’s director of cricket Rob Key at the press conference to explain the pairing of Root with new coach Stephen Fleming.
Pope will be the spare batter in a 16-man squad that covers Test matches in Leeds and at Lord’s.
Returning to the old guard feels like a shift in policy from a previous regime who so often gave youth its head.
With Bethell out, Sussex’s James Coles felt like a potential like-for-like replacement, offering a left-arm spin option within the top six, but such a move has been resisted.
In the bowling, Hampshire’s up and coming quick Sonny Baker has been dropped, making way for the returning Brydon Carse, who has not played any first-class cricket since finishing England’s leading wicket taker in the Ashes, and Essex’s Sam Cook.
Bethell is out with a knee injury he sustained during England’s one-day series against India
‘We have selected a squad for the first two Tests that balances rising talent with the experience needed against a quality Pakistan team,’ said national selector Marcus North.
Without a Test win since 2024, England’s new think-tank clearly do not view this new start as a time for experimentation, preferring to hand out a raft of second chances.
England squad to face Pakistan: Joe Root, Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Shoaib Bashir, Harry Brook, Brydon Carse, Sam Cook, Jordan Cox, Ben Duckett, Matthew Fisher, Emilio Gay, Dan Lawrence, Ollie Pope, Ollie Robinson, Jamie Smith, Josh Tongue
