White-ball specialist Liam Livingstone has been given a chance to shine with the red ball for England’s tour of Pakistan as opener Alex Lees was left out of the 15-man squad announced on Wednesday.
Livingstone has never played an international at Test level and hasn’t even featured in first-class cricket for more than a year, after becoming a mainstay of England’s limited-overs side, his efforts have increasingly been reduced to smaller formats. Focusing on
The selection of the 29-year-old represents a huge gamble after Lancashire’s entire Championship season ended and he managed just eight games in the two previous campaigns, averaging 11 in 2021 and 18.5 in 2020.
But he has quickly become a star of the international game in limited overs.
Livingstone scored his country’s fastest international century in just 42 balls against Pakistan last summer and his style is likely to be inspired by the attacking instincts of captain Ben Stokes and head coach Brendon McCullum. .
Lees, who was handed a central contract earlier in the week, has been left out of the player pool, having averaged just 23.8 from 10 Test caps.
Keaton Jennings, both of whose Test centuries were scored in the subcontinent, returns alongside Ben Duckett, while Surrey all-rounder Will Jacks earns his first call-up to the Test squad.
Veteran fast bowler Stuart Broad is expecting his first child with his partner by the end of November, making way for Surrey’s Jamie Overton.
This is England’s first visit to Pakistan for a Test series since 2005.
England’s managing director of cricket Rob Kay said it will be a historic tour and a great series against a good team.
“The selectors have chosen the team for the conditions that we can expect in Pakistan.
“There is a strong mix of youth and experience and players who will adapt well to the kind of pitches we are likely to get in the three-match series.”
The three Tests will be played between December 1 and 21 in Rawalpindi, Multan and Karachi in just 21 days.
Full squad: Ben Stokes (capt), James Anderson, Harry Brook, Zach Crowley, Ben Duckett, Ben Foakes, Will Jacks, Keaton Jennings, Jack Leach, Liam Livingstone, Jamie Overton, Ollie Pope, Ollie Robinson, Joe Root, Mark wood
