Middlesex seamer Toby Roland-Jones gets his maiden England call-up

The England and Wale Cricket Board (ECB) on Thursday announced the 12-man squad for the 1st Test against Pakistan at Lord’s. Yorkshire batsman Gary Ballance has been recalled to the squad. The 26-year-old last played a Test for England a year ago. Earlier this week, Gary scored an excellent century against Middlesex.

The 28-year-old England Lions player Toby Roland-Jones earned the maiden call-up for the national side. The seamer has been in tremendous form in the ongoing county season having taken 30 wickets in 9 games at 29.07 in Specsavers County Championship.

England pace bowling spearhead James Anderson will miss out the 1st Test as he is yet to recover sufficiently from his shoulder injury he sustained in the 3rd Test against Sri Lanka.

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Speaking about the squad, National selector James Whitaker said “Building on the success of the Test series win against Sri Lanka last month, we have maintained our objective of retaining a balanced squad.”

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“With an injury to James Anderson, there is an opportunity for Toby Roland-Jones who has been a consistent performer in the County Championship over the last few years and deserves his chance.

“Gary Ballance is recalled to the Test squad for the first time since the winter series in South Africa and could play his first Test for England in 12 months. He has been in recent form with the bat for Yorkshire in the Championship. Gary is mentally strong and we feel that he will add quality and experience to England’s middle-order.”

“Pakistan will give us a stiff challenge during this series and we can expect some fantastic cricket from both sides over the next couple of months.”

“The selectors would like to take this opportunity to wish Alastair Cook, Trevor Bayliss and the rest of the squad the best of luck for the series.” He concluded.

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England squad for the 1st Test against Pakistan:

Alastair Cook, Moeen Ali, Jonathan Bairstow, Gary Balance, Jake Ball, Stuart Broad, Steven Finn , Alex Hales,  Joe Root, Toby Roland-Jones, James Vince, Chris Woakes