All-rounder Liam Livingstone will make his Test debut in England’s first Test against Pakistan in Rawalpindi on Thursday.
The 29-year-old has beaten competition from the Surrey Will Jacks and will bat at number eight while providing a spin-bowling option.
Ben Duckett will open the batting, playing his first Test since 2016, in place of the abandoned Alex Lees.
The three-Test series is England’s first in Pakistan for 17 years.
England halted their tour of Pakistan after gunmen attacked the Sri Lanka team bus in 2009.
They returned for a T20 series in September and October, winning 4-3.
England XI for the first test against Pakistan: Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (c), Ben Foakes (wk), Liam Livingstone, Jack Leach, Ollie Robinson, James Anderson.
Lancashire’s Livingstone was part of the England squad that won the T20 World Cup in Australia earlier this month and has earned a reputation as one of the best white-ball cricketers in the world world.
He hasn’t played a top-class game since September last year but featured in England’s warm-up against the England Lions in Abu Dhabi last week, hitting 36 from 23 and taking two counters.
Captain Ben Stokes says Livingstone’s lack of red-ball cricket will not hamper him as he becomes the 708th man to play a Test for England.
“The skill he has with the ball and the way he plays with the bat is very aligned with how we want to see the team play,” Stokes said.
“I don’t necessarily think not playing a red ball game will be too big for him. He’s a very natural cricketer, he’s going to come out and really express himself.
“I can’t wait to see him in white. He said when he took his white towels out of the bag ‘what is this?'”
Despite Livingstone’s inclusion, England remained with six batters and wicketkeeper Ben Foakes at seven.
That means just two front row players in James Anderson and Ollie Robinson, with Stokes operating as a third-pace bowler. Mark Wood is out with the hip injury that hampered him at the end of the World Cup, but the Durham playmaker is expected to be fit for the second Test.
Stokes explained that Livingstone’s ability to spin the ball both ways – he spins the legs and spins off – gave him the edge over the uncapped all-rounder Surrey Jacks.
The skipper described Livingstone as the “third spinner”, suggesting a bigger role for former captain Joe Root’s breaks.
“I’ve spoken to Rooty before,” Stokes said. “I will try to use it a lot.
“I think he’s underused himself. He’s actually got a really good set of skills as an out-of-turn bowler. He’s worked really hard on his bowling.”
Harry Brook retains his place in the middle order after replacing injured Jonny Bairstow at the end of the summer at home, while Nottinghamshire southpaw Duckett, 28, returns to earn his fifth cap.
In Brook, Duckett and Livingstone, England will field three batters who have excelled in shorter forms of play.
“Ducky showed here in the T20s how good he is against spin bowling,” Stokes said. “I am delighted to have him at the top.
“The way Harry has been doing his top class cricket over the last year we won’t see much difference here in the subcontinent. Jonny is a big miss in this Test team here but we are very lucky to have someone like Brooky to replace him.
“Livi will probably try to hit a few on the media center, no doubt.”
