Twenty-year-old spinner Shoaib Bashir has been named in England’s 16-man squad for the five-Test series against India along with fellow uncapped bowlers Gus Atkinson and Tom Hartley.
Bashir only made his first-class debut for Somerset in June but is one of four spinners included for the tour, while vice-captain Ollie Pope and Jack Leach return to the team after injuries.
Fast bowler Atkinson and left-arm spinner Hartley have represented England in white-ball cricket but are yet to play at Test level.
Ben Stokes will captain the side after undergoing knee surgery following England’s dismal ODI World Cup campaign.
Wicketkeeper Ben Foakes is also selected after being left out of England’s Ashes squad, but there is no place for Chris Woakes – Man of the Series in the 2-2 draw with Australia.
England’s leading Test wicket-taker James Anderson (41) heads up the pace attack alongside Mark Wood and Ollie Robinson.
The first Test begins on 25 January in Hyderabad.
Congratulations to Shoaib Bashir who has been selected in the England Men’s Test squad to tour India!
It was a breakthrough season in the County Championship for the 20-year-old as he took 10 wickets for @SomersetCCC pic.twitter.com/BiCX5TcbPz
— County Championship (@CountyChamp) December 11, 2023
England Test squad: Ben Stokes (c), Rehan Ahmed, James Anderson, Gus Atkinson, Jonny Bairstow, Shoaib Bashir, Harry Brook, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ben Foakes, Tom Hartley, Jack Leach, Ollie Pope, Ollie Robinson, Joe Root, Mark Wood.
India vs England Test series:
1st Test: 25-29 January, Hyderabad
2nd Test: 2-6 February, Visakhapatnam
3rd Test: 15-19 February, Rajkot
4th Test: 23-27 February, Ranchi
5th Test: 7-11 March, Dharamsala
© Agence France-Presse
Photo: Harry Trump/Getty Images
