LONDON: England recalled batsman Jos Buttler in a 12-man squad announcedTuesday for the first Test against Pakistan at Lord’s on May 24.
In the first England squad since former Test batsman Ed Smith took over asnational selector, Somerset off-spinner Dom Bess was given a first call-up.
But, after England’s tour series losses in Australia and New Zealand,top-order batsman James Vince was dropped after a run of low scores at Testlevel despite the Hampshire batsman making an unbeaten 201 against Somerseton Monday.
Buttler, widely regarded as one of the most talented English batsmen of hisgeneration, last played Test cricket when he batted down the order.
The 27-year-old has had a frustrating 18-match career in Test cricket, withhis last appearance in the format against India at Chennai in December 2016.
Having made an impact at international level as a wicket-keeper/batsman,Buttler has been selected for the first of a two-Test series againstPakistan purely as a batsman.
Jonny Bairstow, who succeeded Buttler as England’s Test keeper, hasretained his place behind the stumps having become a mainstay of skipperJoe Root’s side with both bat and gloves.
Buttler is currently playing for the Rajasthan Royals in the Twenty20Indian Premier League, where his last three scores have been 95, 94 and 81.
*’Outstanding talent’*
But he has not played first-class cricket for Lancashire, his Englishcounty, since the end of last season.
“Jos Buttler is an outstanding talent, who is already a central part ofEngland’s white ball teams,” said Smith in an England and Wales CricketBoard statement.
“The selection panel feels that this is the perfect moment to reintroduceJos to Test cricket, where he has already enjoyed some success, including astint playing as a specialist batsman at number seven.
“Jos is playing with great confidence and flair, and he will bring uniquequalities to the Test team.”
Bess, 20, has played just 16 first-class matches.
But he starred for MCC in the Champion County match against Essex in Marchwhere he took eight wickets in the match and scored a century in a victoryover the county Champions in Barbados.
An injury to Somerset team-mate Jack Leach has paved the way for Bess’sinclusion as the lone specialist spinner in a squad after England decidedagainst recalling Moeen Ali.
“Dom Bess has made an excellent start to his first-class career,” saidSmith.
“With Jack Leach missing out due to injury, the selection panel wanted toinvest opportunity in a young spin bowler.
“Dom’s strong form, character and all-round abilities presented acompelling case for selection.”
*England 12-man squad to play Pakistan in the first Test at Lord’s, May24-28:*
Joe Root (Yorkshire, capt), James Anderson (Lancashire), Jonny Bairstow(Yorkshire, wkt), Dom Bess (Somerset), Stuart Broad (Nottinghamshire), JosButtler (Lancashire), Alastair Cook (Essex), Dawid Malan (Middlesex),BenStokes (Durham), Mark Stoneman (Surrey), Chris Woakes (Warwickshire), MarkWood (Durham) – APP/AFP