England vs Pakistan: Dom Bess and Jos Buttler called up for First Test at Lord's

Bess impressed on the Lions tours over the winter
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Will Macpherson15 May 2018

England have sprung a major surprise for the First Test against Pakistan at Lord’s next week by calling up the 20-year-old Somerset spin-bowling all-rounder Dom Bess as well as recalling Jos Buttler.

In his first squad as national selector, Ed Smith retained Mark Stoneman as opening batsman despite him not reaching 30 in seven innings for Surrey this season, and dropped James Vince, the Hampshire captain who scored a double century at Taunton yesterday.

Bess’s chance comes after his Somerset spin-bowling colleague Jack Leach broke his thumb batting in the nets on Monday morning. Bess was invited to bowl with England at nets last summer and impressed on the Lions tours over the winter. He is set to become the third spin bowling debutant in four Tests for England this year, after Mason Crane played in Australia and Leach in New Zealand.

He has a century and a 92 in his past two first-class innings and has been selected over Moeen Ali, who is at the IPL and has bowled just seven overs since being dropped after the First Test in Auckland in March.

Buttler has not played a Test since the tour of India in 2016 but has been in brilliant form for Rajasthan Royals in the IPL in recent weeks.

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Smith is a long-time admirer who believes his talents should not merely be confined to the white-ball game. He is likely to bat No7, with Jonny Bairstow keeping the wicket-keeping gloves and moving to No5.

Stoneman’s retention is a surprise given the form of Middlesex opener Nick Gubbins and his two Tests against Pakistan can be considered a final chance to nail down a spot having averaged 30 in his 10 Tests. He averaged 40 in New Zealand and made his highest Test score, 60, in his previous Test.

Vince has not been shown such faith, despite his recent strong form for Hampshire. His absence will require a move to No3 for the captain, Joe Root, or Dawid Malan, who has batted at No5 across his 12-Test career.

Chris Woakes will also return from the IPL to take his place in the squad alongside Mark Wood, with whom he will battle for the fourth seamer’s spot.

England squad: Joe Root (c), Alastair Cook, Mark Stoneman, Dawid Malan, Jonny Bairstow (wk), Ben Stokes, Jos Buttler, Chris Woakes, Dom Bess, Mark Wood, Stuart Broad, James Anderson

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