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England announce 12-man squad for the first Test match against Pakistan at Lord’s

DeadBall

DeadBall

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England National Cricket Selectors have named the following 12-man squad for the first Test match against Pakistan at Lord’s starting on Thursday May 24.

England Test squad

Joe Root (Yorkshire) captain

Jimmy Anderson (Lancashire)

Jonny Bairstow (Yorkshire) wicketkeeper

Dom Bess (Somerset)

Stuart Broad (Nottinghamshire)

Jos Buttler (Lancashire)

Alastair Cook (Essex)

Dawid Malan (Middlesex)

Ben Stokes (Durham)

Mark Stoneman (Surrey)

Chris Woakes (Warwickshire)

Mark Wood (Durham)

Somerset spinner Dom Bess has been included in the squad for the first time.

Lancashire batsman Jos Buttler returns to the Test squad for the first time since December 2016 when he played in the fifth Test against India in Chennai.

Bess, the 20-year-old off spinner, has played 16 first-class matches and was impressive in the Champion County match for the MCC against Essex in March where he took eight wickets in the match and scored a valuable century in defeating the County Champions in Barbados.

Commenting on the selection of Bess and Buttler, National Selector Ed Smith, said:

“Dom Bess has made an excellent start to his first-class career. He has impressed everyone with his performances for Somerset and when he has been given opportunities with England representative teams. With Jack Leach missing out due to injury, the selection panel wanted to invest opportunity in a young spin bowler. Dom's strong form, character and all-round abilities presented a compelling case for selection.

“Jos Buttler is an outstanding talent, who is already a central part of England’s white ball teams. The selection panel feels that this is the perfect moment to reintroduce Jos to Test cricket, where he has already enjoyed some success, including a stint playing as a specialist batsman at number seven. Jos is playing with great confidence and flair, and he will bring unique qualities to the Test team.”

England have awarded incremental contracts to Surrey’s Tom Curran and Middlesex’s Dawid Malan for their performances during the 2017-18 contract year.
 
Moeen Ali dropped. Wow, I was not expecting him to be dropped from the squad altogether. Don't know much about Dom Bess tbh, that could benefit England as Pakistan won't know how to play him but if nerves get to him he could get smashed, assuming he plays.
 
Strange how Moeen, who probably had one of the best ever test match seasons just last summer, has now been dropped completely due to the winter carnage in Australasia where so many of them failed...

Scapegoat perhaps?
 
#Justice for Moeen



We will smash these pompous Brits just to show them how important Moeen is.
 
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IMMY69 said:
Strange how Moeen, who probably had one of the best ever test match seasons just last summer, has now been dropped completely due to the winter carnage in Australasia where so many of them failed...

Scapegoat perhaps?
Click to expand...

Surely you're joking? He averaged 126.8 with the ball during the winter (playing as the main spinner for the most part) and 18.82 with the bat whilst openly admitting he got a longer run than he deserved in the test side during that period.
 
HitWicket said:
Surely you're joking? He averaged 126.8 with the ball during the winter (playing as the main spinner for the most part) and 18.82 with the bat whilst openly admitting he got a longer run than he deserved in the test side during that period.
Click to expand...

I am not joking...

He's gone on record as saying that he sees himself as a batsman. He has always bowled better when he has been the second spinner. Either way he bats at 7...

But you've ignored the most important bit...
Last summer, at home, he took a hatrick at Lords and scored plenty of runs throughout the summer.

He was considered one of the most valuable players for England in Test Matches just a few short months ago.. From that to being dropped altogether seems a it unfair to me.
 
Looks like Bairstow will play as a batsman. A good move which will strengthen English middle order.
 
I hope buttler gets a chance.

He is been in some form lately, but that's in little league. Big boys game is test cricket lets see how he plays pak bowling.
 
Mamoon said:
Buttler would play as the specialist batsman, not Bairstow. The latter likes to keep and the ECB is not going to trust Buttler with keeping in Tests yet.
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Then it will be bad decision. Buttler is almost 28 and has a FC and test average of 31. He is not going to magically become a world class test batsman. Bairstow on the other hand has the potential to be one.
 
People won't be happy with this, but Buttler's selection shows that boards value IPL performances a lot. That is why I don't call franchise T20 cricket anymore - it is not like the PSL, BBL, BPL etc. - it is international cricket in franchise form.
 
IMMY69 said:
Strange how Moeen, who probably had one of the best ever test match seasons just last summer, has now been dropped completely due to the winter carnage in Australasia where so many of them failed...

Scapegoat perhaps?
Click to expand...

Five tests of low scores with the bat and powerlessness with the ball. His confidence is gone for the moment, poor fellow. I knew he would take no wickets in Australia, but thought he would get some runs.

He can come back in tests, but I think he will have to be a #5 bat and second spinner like Shastri.
 
The_Odd_One said:
Then it will be bad decision. Buttler is almost 28 and has a FC and test average of 31. He is not going to magically become a world class test batsman. Bairstow on the other hand has the potential to be one.
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He is obviously more talented that what his F/C record shows. Ideally, they should be playing both of them as specialist batsmen with Foakes taking over the gloves. Both Bairstow and Buttler are too good to be weighed down by WK duties. They are among the best batsmen in the country.
 
Mamoon said:
People won't be happy with this, but Buttler's selection shows that boards value IPL performances a lot. That is why I don't call franchise T20 cricket anymore - it is not like the PSL, BBL, BPL etc. - it is international cricket in franchise form.
Click to expand...

Then Dawid Malan was selected for England T20 squad based on the PSL.
 
Moeen Ali's exclusion was unfortunately inevitable because he has been really struggling to bat for about 6-8 months now and even in this IPL he doesn't know what he's doing.

Even thought England have picked a spinner in the squad I reckon they will be feeling bullish and not require him after what they've seen with Pakistan's batting.
 
Robert said:
Five tests of low scores with the bat and powerlessness with the ball. His confidence is gone for the moment, poor fellow. I knew he would take no wickets in Australia, but thought he would get some runs.

He can come back in tests, but I think he will have to be a #5 bat and second spinner like Shastri.
Click to expand...

Yes I do agree with. Plus Australia is historically an off spinners grave yard so the odds were always stacked against him. He's a good utility spinner who has actually done pretty well in home conditions but when played as a second/back up spinner.

I'm just surprised how one of the most important players in the side over an entire domestic season can go so completely off the boil. I suspect the pressure on him to produce with ball affected his batting over the winter. That, and the fact that he has been playing all formats non stop for the last 3 to 4 years.
 
With regards to Moeen, he's done extremely well against India in the past. So maybe, after some first class matches under his belt, he may just be back for the India series.
 
babajee said:
Then Dawid Malan was selected for England T20 squad based on the PSL.
Click to expand...

There is a difference between getting picked for a T20 squad based on a T20 league, and getting picked for a Test squad based on a T20 league.

IPL is the only league that can influence Test selections.
 
babajee said:
Why are you so sure about that :asif
Click to expand...

IMMY69 said:
Because it is an Indian league.
Click to expand...

Because this is the first time I have seen a player getting selected into a Test squad based on performances in a T20 league.

It doesn't even happen internally, and by that I mean a team selecting a player for its Test team based on performances in their own T20 league.

This is quite fascinating to see. The IPL has truly humbled the ECB over the years and has exposed mercenaries like David Lloyd. They opposed it initially because it was against their so-called values, but now then bend over backwards because their players cannot resist the temptation.
 
Poms are going with 5 pacers, this Dom kid is not going to play; but his FC stats are brilliant - batting average of 25 and bowling average of 22 for 4 wickets/game is brilliant for a 20 years old kid. I can only hope he keeps this FC stats, or may be make it 22 with bat & 25 with ball in the long run; and I wish, it doesn't end with 36 for both bat & ball.
 
Looks weak. Though is probably the right squad.

From that I'd play
1. Stoneman
2. Cook
3. Root
4. Bairstow
5. Malan
6. Stokes
7. Butler (wk)
8. Woakes
9. Bess
10. Broad
11. Anderson

I think getting in Butler is the right move, give him the gloves though, so Bairstow can focus on batting. Think it's crazy though to put in Butler and make Bairstow keep lol, what's the point.

Root needs to move up to three. Cook ideally needs to move down, but there's no stable openers to replace him atm.

3rd pacer is also a problem, not sure if Woakes or Wood will do well, they look second rate compared to broad and anderson.
 
James Vince scores double century and gets dropped (he was one of the better batsman down under) and replaced by Butler whose had a good IPL. Crazy! Sign of the times...
 
What if Pakistan smash England and they are forced to bring back the beard for India who goes on to demolish them.

Would be a glorious summer! :virat
 
Mamoon said:
Because this is the first time I have seen a player getting selected into a Test squad based on performances in a T20 league.

It doesn't even happen internally, and by that I mean a team selecting a player for its Test team based on performances in their own T20 league.

This is quite fascinating to see. The IPL has truly humbled the ECB over the years and has exposed mercenaries like David Lloyd. They opposed it initially because it was against their so-called values, but now then bend over backwards because their players cannot resist the temptation.
Click to expand...

Come on Mamoon, don't fall into the trap of idiots, lip serving someone else's purpose. And, this Rambo guy doesn't even read PP ....... least said about Abdul Qadir is better.

After many, many years, I found very little to criticize Ul Haq's 15 players, out of 16 (he can't change Captain) and hardly any one of them are PSL hit. Within the available scope, only player who came into squad from PSL is Rahat, and his alternate would have also come for PSL performance - Wahab, or Shaheen, if you go for a young face. Otherwise, FZ's FC average is better than most, Babar is invested for 2 years in Test now and other 7 batsmen hardly played or picked in PSL. Fahim came as an all-rounder and he proved his value, at least delivered when it required. Shadab won't have been there unless Yasir was unfit and he also had his mark here (& he was failure, at least to the hype in this PSL). Abbas didn't play a game in PSL, Amir would be there with or without, so would be Hasan. Imam proved his worth beyond being nephew of CS.

Poms picking Butler has absolutely nothing on IPL - he was a super flop in BPL, and turning heat in IPL. It's just that he offers Gilchrist like impact and Poms are trying to off-load burden from their best batsman of recent times, IPL has nothing in it. Neither PSL in PAK's Test squad.
 
Mamoon said:
There is a difference between getting picked for a T20 squad based on a T20 league, and getting picked for a Test squad based on a T20 league.

IPL is the only league that can influence Test selections.
Click to expand...

Flat tracks and sub-par bowlers which even makes Narine look like Chris Gayle V2.0! Poor Vince scores a double hundred in county cricket and gets dropped. Hope this back fires on England.
 
Bairstow can bat at 4 now.

It is always important that two of your most dynamic as well as world class batsmen should bat at 3 and 4.
 
Mo didn't deserve to be in the team either as batsman or bowler after the 6 consecutive shocking Tests he had in both departments. I still wanted him in the side, as I'm a fan. However, it was his home summer that -- in the first place -- got him more than 3 Tests after how he was performing. As someone pointed out, he himself said he was surprised to not have been dropped earlier, and expected not to come back this summer.

Unless Dom Bess and Mason Crane get injured as well. Both of whom seem to be above Mo in the pecking order.

Still annoyed that Foakes can't crack the side and even with the inclusion of a WK T20 king, England are tiring out Bairstow. Testing the endurance of his concentration by batting him at 5 with gloves in hand.

Relieved that James Vince has been dropped. Don't want to take pleasure in his misfortune, but he never should've been in the side.

Preferably he would've played against Pakistan and given us a walking wicket, but with our bowling attack, he might have scored a hundred and played for another year.

Out of this XII, if I was an impartial selector, I'd leave out Woakes for Wood but as a Pakistan supporter I'd leave out Wood. Not playing spinner is silly, considering no team needs 5 seamers. And it's not like England have a classic WI battery of scary fastmen.

All that aside, I can't even fantasise Pakistan won't draw a Test without serious rain.
 
Mamoon said:
Because this is the first time I have seen a player getting selected into a Test squad based on performances in a T20 league.

It doesn't even happen internally, and by that I mean a team selecting a player for its Test team based on performances in their own T20 league.

This is quite fascinating to see. The IPL has truly humbled the ECB over the years and has exposed mercenaries like David Lloyd. They opposed it initially because it was against their so-called values, but now then bend over backwards because their players cannot resist the temptation.
Click to expand...

Bhai I don't disagree with you, but what's wrong with holding out as long as they did against big money? I don't believe anyone would choose values over big paycheques in short playing careers.

I don't disagree at some level because part of me is still disappointed at how things went down in WI with the likes of Gayle, Dwayne Bravo, Samuels etc who could've formed a potent test team.
 
IMMY69 said:
Strange how Moeen, who probably had one of the best ever test match seasons just last summer, has now been dropped completely due to the winter carnage in Australasia where so many of them failed...

Scapegoat perhaps?
Click to expand...

HitWicket said:
Surely you're joking? He averaged 126.8 with the ball during the winter (playing as the main spinner for the most part) and 18.82 with the bat whilst openly admitting he got a longer run than he deserved in the test side during that period.
Click to expand...

Maybe he should be dropped but during that bad run of form people forget his prep for the tour was poor and he was playing injured , the guy wasn't 100% fit. His role has hardly been defined but he has done a good job for England despite that and will be back, very few can match his prowess at home especially and we saw what he did to the Indians last time :ashwin
 
Mamoon said:
Because this is the first time I have seen a player getting selected into a Test squad based on performances in a T20 league.

It doesn't even happen internally, and by that I mean a team selecting a player for its Test team based on performances in their own T20 league.

This is quite fascinating to see. The IPL has truly humbled the ECB over the years and has exposed mercenaries like David Lloyd. They opposed it initially because it was against their so-called values, but now then bend over backwards because their players cannot resist the temptation.
Click to expand...

Yep. In just the last few days, IPL facilitated the come back into international teams for Rahul, Rayudu and now Butler. Performing under pressure always helps
 
shaz619 said:
Maybe he should be dropped but during that bad run of form people forget his prep for the tour was poor and he was playing injured , the guy wasn't 100% fit. His role has hardly been defined but he has done a good job for England despite that and will be back, very few can match his prowess at home especially and we saw what he did to the Indians last time :ashwin
Click to expand...

I actually wrote before Ashes (even just after he was MoS against SAF), that he might loose his spot down under, because his finger off-spin won't be effective there and he is a suspect against short ball. But, didn't expect him to be dropped for home Test so early, particularly when they have retained Malan & Stoneman (& both is likely to start). Moeen is similar aged, still with a better batting average (his home average is much higher than away), and he offers off spin. We were talking about Moeen being deputy or even a shot a Captaincy less than a year back!!!!!!

I think, they'll bring him in for IND series. ENG might win both Tests, but those 2 batsmen are not going to establish themselves against PAK attack.
 
Man for man, England vs. Pakistan is a mismatch in England's favor. They lead us 9-0 with two possible draws when comparing players.

However, England vs. India is a 3-2 in India's favor with 6 draws. The journalists are already hyping up that series as the series of the decade and I seem to fall for the hype. This Eng vs. Ind series has full potential to be an epic tussle.
 
GoUgandaCranes said:
Man for man, England vs. Pakistan is a mismatch in England's favor. They lead us 9-0 with two possible draws when comparing players.

However, England vs. India is a 3-2 in India's favor with 6 draws. The journalists are already hyping up that series as the series of the decade and I seem to fall for the hype. This Eng vs. Ind series has full potential to be an epic tussle.
Click to expand...

Agreed.

I think IND will win the series this summer as they will get conditions like we did in 2016.

They have better bowling and batting; fielding, the less said the better.
 
ManFan said:
Agreed.

I think IND will win the series this summer as they will get conditions like we did in 2016.

They have better bowling and batting; fielding, the less said the better.
Click to expand...

Yes, they seem motivated to win this time. Pujara is already in England and Kohli will spend a month there. I love how India has transformed its cricketing identity 180 degree.
 
GoUgandaCranes said:
Yes, they seem motivated to win this time. Pujara is already in England and Kohli will spend a month there. I love how India has transformed its cricketing identity 180 degree.
Click to expand...

Their bowling has improved leaps and bounds since the last time they toured.

They should have won 2-1 in SA if not for stupid management decisions.
 
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shaz619 said:
Maybe he should be dropped but during that bad run of form people forget his prep for the tour was poor and he was playing injured , the guy wasn't 100% fit. His role has hardly been defined but he has done a good job for England despite that and will be back, very few can match his prowess at home especially and we saw what he did to the Indians last time :ashwin
Click to expand...

I think that he was unlucky to be dropped as Aus tours are horrible for spinners and his injury but I think going to IPL lost him his place in the end. Mo probably knew his spot was at risk but he chose to go to IPL rather than put in some FC performances which was the wrong choice as a few good performances could've convinced selectors he hasn't lost it.

Hopefully he comes back from IPL and puts in some good performances for Worcestershire in time for Indian series
 
Come on Sarfaraz let's keep the streak going

England hasn't defeated Pakistan in the past 8 years (all under Misbah)!

Let's keep the streak ALIVE
 
Buttler is an interesting choice. If backed he can do a good job in tests. Not the best England squad selected but they are always strong in home conditions.
 
babajee said:
Why was he picked for the T20 squad? PSL. Nice try though.

You don’t always have to be Mamoon’s chamchay.
Click to expand...

He was picked for T20s because he averages 33 in domestic T20 and because England wanted to try a new middle order player.

Nothing to do with Mamoon. I'm giving you the facts as I live in the UK.
 
Hasan123 said:
He was picked for T20s because he averages 33 in domestic T20 and because England wanted to try a new middle order player.

Nothing to do with Mamoon. I'm giving you the facts as I live in the UK.
Click to expand...

I also live in the UK.

You think England selected Buttler because of IPL? Because by that logic they selected Malan for the T20 squad based on PSL.
 
babajee said:
I also live in the UK.

You think England selected Buttler because of IPL? Because by that logic they selected Malan for the T20 squad based on PSL.
Click to expand...


Buttler was selected because he was in good form but also there aren't any many opitions in domestic cricket.

Don't think IPL played a massive part in his selection.
 
Hasan123 said:
Buttler was selected because he was in good form but also there aren't any many opitions in domestic cricket.

Don't think IPL played a massive part in his selection.
Click to expand...

Butler was selected as he can be a back up keeper, and there's little batting talent available, so better to go with someone a bit experienced.

Must say England's talent stocks at the moment look at an all time low. They're scooping out guys who average low 30s who had a good previous season, hoping they'll somehow keep that alive (rather than returning to previous form).

The only batsman I can think who's consistently performing well/good record in English domestic is Gary Ballance. But he looked so dreadful in his recent outings, England are trying to look for other options.
 
ads101 said:
Butler was selected as he can be a back up keeper, and there's little batting talent available, so better to go with someone a bit experienced.

Must say England's talent stocks at the moment look at an all time low. They're scooping out guys who average low 30s who had a good previous season, hoping they'll somehow keep that alive (rather than returning to previous form).

The only batsman I can think who's consistently performing well/good record in English domestic is Gary Ballance. But he looked so dreadful in his recent outings, England are trying to look for other options.
Click to expand...

Doubt his keeping came into it at all. They want to get Bairstow further up the order and to do that they need someone at 7. We don't need another bowling option so they want an aggressive batsman such as Buttler to fill the slot.

In terms of batting talent Joe Clarke is my tip for one to look out for. Wouldn't be surprised to see him in the reckoning for all formats in the next couple of years.
 
I have a feeling Pakistan will win 2-0’in England... England looks out of sorts and Pakistan has a young team who are hungry to prov themselves.. I would back Pakistan to win this series 2-0, they are 60% favourites for me.
 
Jos Buttler was selected because I made a thread on PP about him being such a great talent and needs to be backed by ECB some days ago.

Hence, posters should give credit to the real man because of which Buttler returned back in test team and not any Tom, Dick and Harry.

It is very injustice and disrespectful to me although one should not feel embarassed with that because I am a very joyful personality.
 
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I was expecting james vince to survive instead of stoneman considering their current form. And vince scored 200 day before selection meeting.
So that means root is back to no.3 and buttler will bat at no.7 and I think this pattern will continue till india series only stoneman's place in threat now in batting order.
 
If everyone was in form I would probably pick:

Hameed
Gubbins
Cook
Root (capt.)
Bairstow
Stokes
Foakes (w)
Broad
Wood
Anderson
Crane

Bit if a long tail, mind....
 
Mamoon said:
He is obviously more talented that what his F/C record shows. Ideally, they should be playing both of them as specialist batsmen with Foakes taking over the gloves. Both Bairstow and Buttler are too good to be weighed down by WK duties. They are among the best batsmen in the country.
Click to expand...

Buttler left his home county Somerset for Lancashire around 2013-14 because he wasn't given the gloves consistently. Don't think he feels weighed down by wicketkeeping duties.
 
Mamoon said:
People won't be happy with this, but Buttler's selection shows that boards value IPL performances a lot. That is why I don't call franchise T20 cricket anymore - it is not like the PSL, BBL, BPL etc. - it is international cricket in franchise form.
Click to expand...

What about stokes performance in the IPL?
 
MenInG said:
View attachment 81597
Click to expand...

Jimmy, Broad and Wood will come hard at our (inexperienced) top order.

I don't have much expectations from Azhar, as most people rightly call him: non impact player scoring non impact runs. Shafiq might score a 100 but it won't win us any of 2 games.

Others at top order are noobs.

If Amir remains 100% then Pak will test England batting.

It will be a tough series for us. England should win it easily. Heck, our top order struggled against Ireland :facepalm:
 
England batting on paper looks a bit stronger so pakistans bowlers will have to make the most of exposing the weak links in the line up.

Unless pakistans batting drastically improves then it will be 2-0.
 
This is good- plenty of lefties and root at 3- just where he doesn't wanna be.
In early against Abbas!
 
Amjid Javed said:
England batting on paper looks a bit stronger so pakistans bowlers will have to make the most of exposing the weak links in the line up.

Unless pakistans batting drastically improves then it will be 2-0.
Click to expand...

Me and you were the only ones who got this right last time with the 2-2 prediction. I'm going 1-1 this time
 
our problem as always is our batting..can we last long enough to give england a fight? I doubt it..we really need Azhar to hit some form..it may be too late before he does..Our bowling will do ok but England will still make big runs against us by just playing normal cricket..Dont think we will trouble them too much..

However there is the distinct possibility that someone like Shadab and then abbas suddenly turn a session on its head giving us a chance..thats entirely possible..
 
GoUgandaCranes said:
Man for man, England vs. Pakistan is a mismatch in England's favor. They lead us 9-0 with two possible draws when comparing players.

However, England vs. India is a 3-2 in India's favor with 6 draws. The journalists are already hyping up that series as the series of the decade and I seem to fall for the hype. This Eng vs. Ind series has full potential to be an epic tussle.
Click to expand...

Between 2 flawed teams. Both of these teams are not a patch on good teams of the past.
I think we can shake England up and if Azhar Ali can turn his fortunes around and have a good series, we can beat them
 
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