England have recalled batsman Jos Buttler and picked 20-year-old off-spinner Dom Bess in a 12-player squad for the first Test against Pakistan at Lord’s on May 24. After England’s tour series losses in Australia and New Zealand, top-order batsman James Vince was dropped after a run of low scores.
Buttler, widely regarded as one of the most talented English batsmen of his generation, last played Test cricket when he batted down the order. Having made an impact at international level as a wicketkeeper-batsman, Buttler has been selected for the first of a two-Test series against Pakistan purely as a batsman.
Jonny Bairstow, who succeeded Buttler as England’s Test keeper, has retained his place behind the stumps having become a mainstay of skipper Joe Root’s side with both bat and gloves.
Squad for first Test against Pakistan: Joe Root (c), James Anderson, Jonny Bairstow (wk), Dom Bess, Stuart Broad, Jos Buttler, Alastair Cook, Dawid Malan, Ben Stokes, Mark Stoneman, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood.
