England have announced their 15-member squad for their three-Test tour of South Africa. Led by Joe Root, the tour marks the first assignment for incoming head coach Stephen Fleming.
Shoaib Bashir has been left out, with England handing a call-up to uncapped left-arm finger spinner Liam Patterson-White. His inclusion comes on the back of a fruitful County Championship, where he finished as the highest wicket-taker (42 at 25.11) among spinners in Division One. In all first-class matches, the 28-year old has 184 wickets from 75 games at 33.40.
Bashir, instead, features in England Lions’ red-ball squad. Both the red and white-ball Lions squads will tour South Africa from November 26 to December 21.
England squad for South Africa Tests: Joe Root (c), Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Sonny Baker, Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook, Sam Cook, Jordan Cox, Ben Duckett, Emilio Gay, Dan Lawrence, Liam Patterson-White, Ollie Robinson, Jamie Smith, Josh Tongue
Ollie Pope also doesn't make the cut, having a part of the squad for the Pakistan Tests, although he didn’t get a game, included as an exra batter for the injured Jacob Bethell. He is also part of the Lions’ red-ball squad.
Bethell returns to the squad after recovering from a knee injury, which he suffered during England's ODI series against India.
As part of their preparation, six players not part of their upcoming white-ball assignment against Australia will fly out early alongside the Lions. These players - Sam Cook, Emilio Gay, Dan Lawrence, Liam Patterson-White, Ollie Robinson and Jamie Smith - will take part in a preparatory camp in Pietermaritzburg on November 25.
Four players - Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Sonny Baker, Ben Duckett and Root - will make their way back to the UK immediately right after the Australia ODIs. They will fly to South Africa on December 2.
As for Harry Brook, Bethell and Jordan Cox, they will leave after the fourth Australia T20I, and fly to South Africa.
