Cook and Cox named in England Test Match Squad

Essex Cricket duo Sam Cook and Jordan Cox have both been named in England Men's latest squad for the upcoming Test series against Pakistan.

The 16-player squad will begin the Test series against Pakistan at Headingley on Wednesday 19 August.

Essex Men's vice-captain Sam Cook returns to the England Test squad after making his Test debut against Zimbabwe at Trent Bridge last summer, where he claimed his maiden Test wicket on a batter-friendly pitch.

Wicket-keeper batter Jordan Cox, who made his Test debut earlier this summer against New Zealand at the Kia Oval, is set to bat at number three in place of the injured Jacob Bethell. Bethell sustained a right knee injury during the Metro Bank ODI series against India last month and is set to be sidelined for the entirety of the Rothesay Test Series against Pakistan.

England Men's Test Squad:

Joe Root (Yorkshire – Captain)
Jofra Archer (Sussex)
Gus Atkinson (Surrey)
Shoaib Bashir (Derbyshire)
Harry Brook (Yorkshire)
Brydon Carse (Durham)
Sam Cook (Essex)
Jordan Cox (Essex)
Ben Duckett (Nottinghamshire)
Matthew Fisher (Surrey)
Emilio Gay (Durham)
Dan Lawrence (Surrey)
Ollie Pope (Surrey)
Ollie Robinson (Sussex)
Jamie Smith (Surrey)
Josh Tongue (Nottinghamshire)

Dan Lawrence, the second-leading run scorer in Division One of the Rothesay County Championship this season, is recalled two years after his most recent Test appearance against Sri Lanka and is set to bat at number six.

Brydon Carse and Ollie Pope return for the first time since last winter’s Ashes Series defeat in Australia. Joe Root will captain the Test team in a permanent capacity for the first time since 2022 in front of his home crowd at Headingley.

England Men National Selector, Marcus North, said: “We have selected a squad for the first two Tests that balances rising talent with the experience needed against a quality Pakistan team.

“Jordan Cox is well regarded as one of the most exciting talents in English cricket and will have the opportunity to bat at three in place of Jacob Bethell, who sadly misses this series through injury.”