England name squad for Test series against South Africa

The England men's selectors have named a 15-member squad for the upcoming three-match Test series in South Africa. The series is a part of the ICC World Test Championship 2025-27 cycle. The contest against South Africa will be Stephen Fleming's first assignment as England head coach.

Slow left-arm orthodox bowler Liam Patterson-White has earned his maiden Test call-up. Patterson-White has played 75 first-class games and claimed 184 wickets at an average of 33.40, including seven four-fors and eight five-wicket hauls. Jacob Bethell also returns to the Test squad after missing the home series against Pakistan and the men's Hundred with a knee injury sustained during the bilateral series against India.

England are sixth on the ICC World Test Championship points table with a points percentage (PCT) of 38.54%. They head into the series against the Proteas with a 3-0 whitewash over Pakistan.

“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.

“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.”

Meanwhile, South Africa are second on the WTC ladder with a PCT of 71.43%, having beaten Australia 2-1 in a recently concluded home series.

England's Test squad for the three-match Test series against 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), Dan Lawrence (Surrey), Liam Patterson-White (Nottinghamshire), Ollie Robinson (Sussex), Jamie Smith (Surrey), Josh Tongue (Nottinghamshire)

England Men's Test Tour of South Africa Schedule