England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) on Saturday July 4, announced a 13-man England squad and 9 reserve players for the first Test against West Indies from July 8. Off-spinner Dom Bess was preferred over left-arm orthodox spinner Jack leach and off-spinner Moeen Ali as only spinner in the squad.
Bess picked 3 for 72 in the intra-squad warm up match, while both Jack Leach and Moeen Ali went wicket less. Bess had also impressed during the tour of South Africa earlier this year.
Jack leach has been included in the list of 9 reserve players to deal with uncertainty over illness.
Denly in, Bairstow out
On the batting front, Joe Denly has retained his place in the squad with Jonny Bairstow missing out. Bairstow was expected to fill in for Joe Root, who misses out on account of birth of his second child.
Rory Burns, Dom Sibley, Zak Crawley and Joe Denly are expected to be the top four in the batting line up in the first Test.
Ben Foakes has been included in the reserve list with uncapped Dan Lawrence and James Bracey, both who scored half-centuries in the warm up game.
On the pace bowling front, England have preferred to continue with the James Anderson, Jofra Archer, Chris Woakes and Mark Wood, all who played on the tour of South Africa in January.
Sam Curran who missed two days of the three-day warm match after falling ill has been included in the reserve list. Seamers Craig Overton, Ollie Robinson, Olly Stone and Saqib Mahmood are others on the reserve list.
Both West Indies and England will sport a black lives matter logo on t-shirt collars to raise awareness against racism.
England squad
Ben Stokes (capt), James Anderson, Jofra Archer, Dominic Bess, Stuart Broad, Rory Burns, Jos Buttler (wk), Zak Crawley, Joe Denly, Ollie Pope, Dom Sibley, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood.
Reserves: James Bracey, Sam Curran, Ben Foakes (wk), Dan Lawrence, Jack Leach, Saqib Mahmood, Craig Overton, Ollie Robinson, Olly Stone.
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