England Announce Test Squad for South Africa Tour, Patterson-White Included

London: England have announced a 15-member squad for their three-Test tour of South Africa, with Joe Root named captain and left-arm spinner Liam Patterson-White earning his maiden Test call-up.

The series, beginning on December 17, will be the first Test assignment for newly appointed head coach Stephen Fleming. South Africa are the reigning ICC World Test champions.

Patterson-White earned his place after an impressive County Championship season, claiming 42 wickets at an average of 25.11 in Division One. Jacob Bethell has also returned to the squad after recovering from a knee injury.

The squad includes Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Harry Brook, Ben Duckett, Jordan Cox, Dan Lawrence, Ollie Robinson, Jamie Smith and Josh Tongue.

Six players — Sam Cook, Emilio Gay, Dan Lawrence, Patterson-White, Ollie Robinson and Jamie Smith — will join the England Lions squad for an early preparation camp in Pietermaritzburg from November 25.

England have also announced separate red-ball and 50-over squads for the Lions tour, which runs from November 26 to December 21. The Lions will play three 50-over matches and two four-day games against South Africa A.

National selector Marcus North said the Test squad was selected to meet the challenge of facing the world champions. He added that the Lions tour would provide valuable exposure to South African conditions and help prepare reserve players for the Test series.

The Test tour will begin with a warm-up match against a Cricket South Africa XI in Durban from December 9 to 11. The three Tests are scheduled in Johannesburg, Centurion and Cape Town, with the final match beginning on January 3.