Uncapped Spinner Patterson-White Named for England in South Africa
England have named an uncapped spinner for the winter. Liam Patterson-White of Nottinghamshire, aged 28, is in the squad for the three Tests against South Africa, their first red-ball series of the winter, which opens in Johannesburg.
A reward for a productive summer
Last summer Patterson-White finished as the top spinner in the County Championship, taking 42 wickets. The England and Wales Cricket Board gave him a 12-month development deal when it announced its central contracts.
Marcus North, England's men's national selector, said the team wanted someone to spin the ball away from the right-hander. He praised the bowler's consistency and said he had matured over two seasons at Nottinghamshire.
Conditions will not be simple
South Africa won their recent home series against Australia and rose to No 1 in the ICC rankings. Their most successful bowler in it was spinner Simon Harmer, who took 14 wickets at 29.35.
North said the first two Tests are on the Highveld, which tends not to spin as much and so favours pace bowlers. England feel they have balance, he said: even if they had not picked a specialist spinner, they have plenty of options to support four quicks. Dan Lawrence, Joe Root and Jacob Bethell are also in the squad as spin options.
Who is out, and who goes to the Lions
Shoaib Bashir, a regular in England Test squads since his 2024 debut in India, will travel only with the Lions. Durham seamer Brydon Carse joins him there. He has not been picked since an altercation outside a Derby nightclub in August.
North described a period of reflection for Carse and said the Lions are the right place to bring him back into the England environment. Matthew Potts, Olly Stone and Matthew Fisher are also in that group. At least one of them will move up for the first Test, which Josh Tongue is set to miss as he becomes a father for the second time.
Sam Curran asked not to be considered because the series clashes with his wedding. North said he understands and supports the decision.
The batting order is still open
Bethell returns from a knee injury that kept him out of the Pakistan series. England have not decided how, or if, he will fit in. Jordan Cox averaged 50.50 at No 3 in his absence.
Openers Ben Duckett and Emilio Gay averaged 26.36 and 24.63 over the home summer, and 20.40 as a pair. North called the decision difficult and said England are not going in with a locked-in six.
England are fifth in the ICC Test rankings and sixth in the World Test Championship, where South Africa are second. North said the ambition is to climb to No 1.
North tied that aim to the World Test Championship. In his view, England must win series away from home and against the strongest sides, and he named South Africa, Australia, India and New Zealand among those competing for that final.
Source: the Guardian