London: England have recalled Jacob Bethell and included Jamie Overton in their squad for the first Test against India, set to begin on June 20 at Headingley, Leeds. The decision comes as England faces a growing fast-bowling injury crisis.
Gus Atkinson is ruled out with a hamstring injury, joining Mark Wood, Jofra Archer, and Olly Stone on the sidelines. The England and Wales Cricket Board confirmed the news on Tuesday.
Bethell, 21, missed the recent Zimbabwe Test due to his IPL commitments. However, He may not make the final playing XI back in the squad. Overton returns to the Test setup for the first time since 2022. He is recovering from a broken finger sustained in an ODI against the West Indies.
England has named five frontline seamers, including Chris Woakes, Brydon Carse, Josh Tongue, and Sam Cook. Matthew Potts was left out. Spinner Shoaib Bashir also made the squad.
Bethell had impressed with half-centuries in New Zealand and scored 82 in a recent ODI. Captain Ben Stokes indicated that Bethell and Ollie Pope compete for the No. 3 spot.
England’s pace options have further thinned with injuries to Josh Hull and Sonny Baker. Both were withdrawn from the England Lions squad.
The call-ups reflect the team’s need to manage injuries while maintaining a strong lineup for the five-match series.
