Chris Woakes has returned to the test squad to play a three-match series against West Indies on a home tour starting July 10 at Lord’s.
England Names Test Squad for Home Tour
England has recalled Chris Woakes for the test squad to play a three-match test series on the West Indies tour of England 2024 alongside uncapped duo Dillon Pennington and Jamie Smith for the first two tests against West Indies next month.
He returned to the test squad for the first time since July 2023 and is set to play alongside James Anderson who is set to retire after the end of the West Indies Test series.
Jonny Bairstow and Ben Foakes are the absentees, with Smith has received maiden test call-ups. But England has picked several bowlers for the home series, including James Anderson, Pennington, Matthew Potts, Gus Atkinson, and Chris Worakes.
“The first test of the summer is always a special moment, but it will be extra poignant with it being Jimmy’s last test before he retires,” Managing Director Rob Key said.
“He has given everything to the sport since his test debut in 2003. We all would like to wish him well as he walks out at Lord’s for the last time for England.
“We are looking forward to getting the season underway against a strong West Indies side in what will be an excellent test series.”
Spinners Shoaib Bashir and Jack Leach were missing in the test squad. The series will be the second edition of the Richards-Botham Trophy with West Indies winning the inaugural edition in 2022. The first match of the Test series will be played between July 10-14 at Lord’s.
England Test Squad
Ben Stokes (c), James Anderson, Gus Atkinson, Shoaib Bashir, Harry Brook, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Dan Lawrence, Dillon Pennington, Ollie Pope, Matthew Potts, Joe Root, Jamie Smith, Chris Woakes.
