England unveil squad for first two Tests against Pakistan

England have named a 16-member squad for the first two of the three Tests against Pakistan starting later this month. The series will be part of the ongoing ICC World Test Championship cycle.

Joe Root will lead the side for the first time in the series since Ben Stokes retired from Test cricket, with the conclusion of the home series against New Zealand.

Middle-order batter Dan Lawrence has been added to the Test side for the first time in two years.

England squad: Joe Root (c), Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Shoaib Bashir, Harry Brook, Brydon Carse, Sam Cook, Jordan Cox, Ben Duckett, Matthew Fisher, Emilio Gay, Dan Lawrence, Ollie Pope, Ollie Robinson, Jamie Smith, Josh Tongue

Lawrence, who's featured in 14 Tests for England, has 671 runs to his name, which includes four half-centuries.

He earns his way back into the England squad on the back of an impressive run in the County Championship season, where he has amassed a whopping 788 runs off 13 innings at an average of 65.66.

Jordan Cox, on the other hand, will take the place of injured Jacob Bethell. 

Bethell had sustained a right knee injury during the series against India and will miss the entire series against Pakistan. 

England and Pakistan are seventh and eighth, respectively, in the WTC Standings. 

Series schedule: 

1st Test - 19-23 August, Headingley, Leeds

2nd Test - 27-31 August, Lord’s, London

3rd Test - 9-13 September, Edgbaston, Birmingham