Jacob Bethell returns and new spinner earns first England call in squad to face South Africa

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Jacob Bethell returns from injury and uncapped left-arm finger spinner Liam Patterson-White earns a first call-up as the only two changes in England’s Test squad for this winter’s trip to South Africa.

The explosive Bethell suffered a knee injury during the ODI series with India this summer and was subsequently ruled out of the Tests against Pakistan in September but he is currently in Australia with England’s white-ball squad and will resume his red-ball career against the Proteas.

Meanwhile, the 28-year-old Patterson-White was the most prolific spinner in Division One of the County Championship this summer, taking 42 wickets at an average of 25.11 for Nottinghamshire. That saw him earn his first ECB development contract and now a maiden call-up as the only full-time spinner heading to South Africa, with Shoaib Bashir seemingly usurped atop the pecking order and limited to England Lions duty instead.

Liam Patterson-White impressed for Nottinghamshire in the County Championship this summer (Getty)

Other than that, there are no real surprises in the selection as England look to build on a promising end to the red-ball summer where they thrashed Pakistan in three straight Tests on home soil.

This series against the reigning ICC Test world champions will be Stephen Fleming’s first at the helm since taking over from Brendon McCullum as head coach, having been appointed ahead of the Pakistan matches but not yet in post, as Marcus Trescothick took temporary charge.

Joe Root is captain and is one of five players –along with Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Sonny Baker and Ben Duckett – who will return to the UK immediately after the ongoing ODI series against Australia before flying to South Africa on December 2.

The three players also involved with England’s T20 squad for the clashes Down Under, namely Bethell, Harry Brook and Jordan Cox, will leave the tour of Australia after the fourth T20 in Sydney on 29 November and fly directly to South Africa.

Jacob Bethell is one of three players flying directly to South Africa from Australia following the fourth T20 match against England’s old foes (PA)

Meanwhile, the remainder of the group – Patterson-White, Sam Cook, Emilio Gay, Dan Lawrence, Ollie Robinson and Jamie Smith – will fly out to South Africa early with the England Lions squad for a preparation camp in Pietermaritzburg on 25 November.

“We have selected a strong and balanced squad that is ready for the challenge of facing a South African team that are ICC Test world champions and who returned to the top of the ICC Test rankings following their recent 2-1 series win over Australia,” explained England men’s national selector Marcus North.

“There are two changes to the squad that defeated Pakistan 3-0 at the end of the home summer with Liam Patterson-White earning his debut call-up while Jacob Bethell returns from a knee injury.

“Liam Patterson-White’s selection comes on the back of a strong summer in the Rothesay County Championship, when he took the most wickets of any spinner in Division One with 42 at an average of 25.11 and earned his first ECB development contract.

“We have also selected a strong England Lions squad, who will fly out to South Africa on November 25 for a preparation camp before three 50-over matches and two first-class games. Those players will benefit from experiencing South African conditions and ensure we have players who are fit and ready should they be required for the Test series.”

The likes of Bashir, Brydon Carse, Ollie Pope and Matthew Potts are named in that England Lions squad that will be in the country at the same time and playing a number of matches against a South Africa ‘A’ side.

Shoaib Bashir is only part of the England Lions squad (PA Wire)

England’s Test squad for tour of South Africa

Joe Root (Yorkshire – captain)

Jofra Archer (Sussex)

Gus Atkinson (Surrey)

Sonny Baker (Hampshire)

Jacob Bethell (Warwickshire)

Harry Brook (Yorkshire)

Sam Cook (Essex)

Jordan Cox (Essex)

Ben Duckett (Nottinghamshire)

Emilio Gay (Durham)