The ECB selectors have named the squad for the forthcoming test series against Pakistan.

Nick Compton drops out of the team following an unconvincing showing against the Sri Lankans, with Yorkshire batsman Gary Ballance coming in to take his place.

James Anderson also misses out with a shoulder injury, one that had already had a time-frame of beyond the first test. Middlesex fast bowler Toby Roland-Jones receives his first call up to fill in for the Lancashire seamer, and will fight with Jake Ball for their first England caps respectively.

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The Ballance call-up has been met with some condemnation. The batsman has been averaging an indistinct 33.64 in this year’s County Championship.

Ballance has been out of the team since last year’s Ashes victory.

Joe Root is set to move up the order from four again, and will try his hand coming after that first wicket has fallen for the second time in his career.

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There had been suggestions that either Jos Buttler or Ben Stokes (still unfit to bowl after knee surgery earlier this year) could come into the team as a specialist batsman.

England squad for first Test against Pakistan: Cook (c), Hales, Root, Vince, Ballance, Bairstow (wk), Moeen, Woakes, Broad, Finn, Ball, Roland-Jones.

The first test begins on Thursday 14th of July at Lord’s.