Brydon Carse has earned a recall to the England setup after being named in the Lions squad for the upcoming tour of South Africa. The fast bowler has not featured for his country since the final Ashes Test back in January. Meanwhile, spinner Shoaib Bashir has been omitted from the touring party as selectors opt for a fresh approach under new coach Stephen Fleming. The upcoming three-match series begins in Johannesburg on December 17.
- Brydon Carse returns via the Lions squad following a period away from international cricket.
- Uncapped spinner Liam Patterson-White replaces Shoaib Bashir in the touring squad.
- Josh Tongue will miss the first Test to attend the birth of his second child.
- Jacob Bethell also returns to the Test setup following a recent knee injury.
Squad Adjustments and Cover
England selector Marcus North confirmed that Brydon Carse could eventually step into the senior Test squad as cover. Josh Tongue is set to miss the series opener in Johannesburg. Therefore, selectors plan to evaluate several fast bowling options during the preliminary Lions fixtures. Additionally, Sam Curran was unavailable for selection due to his upcoming marriage.
Jacob Bethell makes his long-awaited return after recovering from a knee injury sustained in July. However, this recovery creates fierce competition within the top order. Selectors have not yet finalised the exact batting combination for the opening match against South Africa.
Bashir Omission and New Faces
Shoaib Bashir drops out of the squad for the very first time in his international career. Selectors instead handed a maiden call-up to Nottinghamshire left-arm spinner Liam Patterson-White. Patterson-White claimed 42 wickets in Division One of the County Championship last season. Consequently, the team management believes his recent domestic form offers better balance for these conditions.
Stephen Fleming will oversee his first assignment as England head coach during this tour. Meanwhile, white-ball captain Harry Brook and other dual-format players will depart early from Australia. As a result, Will Jacks will step in to captain the T20 side in their absence.
Keep browsing Sporting Avenue to get more interesting news from the world of sports. You can follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to get the notifications instantly.
