England Cricket Board has announced a 14-member Test squad under the leadership of Ben Stokes for the first two Tests of the three-match series against West Indies starting from the 10th of July. The first Test which will be held in the Lord's Cricket Ground in London will also be the farewell Test of the legendary cricketer James Anderson.
5 stars dropped from the squad
Jonny Bairstow, Mark Wood, Ben Foakes, Jack Leach, and Ollie Robinson are the five stars who were also part of England's team that toured India earlier this year
“England Men's selection panel have named a 14-strong squad for the first two Test matches of the three-match Test series against West Indies starting at Lord’s on Wednesday, 10 July 2024,” wrote ECB in their official release.
“Two players have been selected for the first time at this level – Nottinghamshire seamer Dillon Pennington and Surrey batter Jamie Smith, who will also be available to keep wicket. Both have been standout performers in the LV= Insurance County Championship Division One this season. Surrey seamer Gus Atkinson is the only other uncapped player. He was part of the squad for the Test tour of India earlier this year. Pennington, 25, who joined Nottinghamshire this year from Worcestershire, has been showing his promise with the ball, taking 29 Championship wickets at an average of 23.03 in the top-flight,” the statement further stated.
“The attacking right-hand batter Smith, who has been in spectacular form this campaign, helping Surrey consolidate their top spot in Division One, has scored 507 runs at an average of 76.93. He is set to be rewarded with his Test debut next week at Lord’s and add to his England ODI credentials when he debuted last summer against Ireland. Warwickshire seamer Chris Woakes returns to the Test squad for the first time since July 2023, when he was awarded the Player of the Series during the Ashes series against Australia,” the statement concluded
England squad
Ben Stokes, James Anderson, Gus Atkinson, Shoaib Bashir, Harry Brook, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Dan Lawrence, Dillon Pennington, Ollie Pope, Matthew Potts, Joe Root, Jamie Smith, Chris Woakes
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