Yorkshire batsman Dawid Malan has earned a recall to the Test squad for the first time in three years in the wake of England’s batting distress. The left-hander last donned the white flannels for England in August 2018, when the hosts humbled India at Edgbaston. Malan has 15 Test caps to his name.
Lancashire seamer Saqib Mahmood is included as well after promising exploits across formats. He is yet to make his Test debut but will be aiming to solidify his England credentials, having already been capped by the senior side in ODIs and T20s.
The 24-year-old right-arm quick is familiar with the England set-up, having toured as a reserve during England’s winter Test programmes in Sri Lanka and India. In addition, he was part of the extended squads during last summer’s behind closed doors Test series against West Indies and Pakistan and was drafted in as back-up for the injured Stuart Broad ahead of the second Test against India at Lord’s.
Under-fire batsmen Zak Crawley and Dom Sibley have copped the axe and will return to Kent and Warwickshire respectively in a bid to rediscover their mojo.
Somerset spinner Jack Leach will return to Taunton, but remains on standby as back-up to Moeen Ali. The England medical team will monitor seamer Mark Wood’s right shoulder after he sustained a strain while fielding at the end of day four during the first Test at Trent Bridge. It is expected that he will regain full fitness ahead of the Emerald Headingley Test.
