Four Surrey players have been named in England’s Test Match squad for the first two games of the series against the West Indies.
Jamie Smith receives his first Test Match call up after an outstanding two years in Surrey colours. The Surrey Academy product is currently averaging just over 50 in the Vitality County Championship this season as well as playing some fantastic knocks in the Vitality Blast. Smith is in line to make his Test debut at Lord’s.
Smith joins fellow Surrey Academy graduates Gus Atkinson and Ollie Pope in the squad, alongside teammate Dan Lawrence. Atkinson has already made his debut in IT20 cricket for England and was part of the Test Match squad who toured India over the winter.
England Vice Captain Ollie Pope has been a fixture in the side over the last three years and his 196 against India was one of the great overseas innings played by an England cricketer.
Surrey’s Dan Lawrence has been a part of the England set up for several years, having made his Test match debut in 2021. Lawrence has been in fine form this year for Surrey, with 568 runs at an average of 63.
Commenting on the selected squad, ECB Managing Director for England Men’s Cricket, Rob Key, said:
“The first Test of the summer is always a special moment, but it will be extra poignant with it being Jimmy’s (Anderson) last Test before he retires. He has given everything to the sport since his Test debut in 2003. We all would like to wish him well as he walks out at Lord’s for the last time for England.”
“We are looking forward to getting the season underway against a strong West Indies side in what will be an excellent Test series.”
England Men’s Test Squad:
Ben Stokes (Durham) Captain
James Anderson (Lancashire) (First Test only)
Gus Atkinson (Surrey)
Shoaib Bashir (Somerset)
Harry Brook (Yorkshire)
Zak Crawley (Kent)
Ben Duckett (Nottinghamshire)
Dan Lawrence (Surrey)
Dillon Pennington (Nottinghamshire)
Ollie Pope (Surrey)
Matthew Potts (Durham)
Joe Root (Yorkshire)
Jamie Smith (Surrey)
Chris Woakes (Warwickshire)
Test Series Versus West Indies
1st Test: England v West Indies, 10-14 July 2024, Lord’s Cricket Ground, London
2nd Test: England v West Indies, 18-22 July 2024, Trent Bridge, Nottingham
3rd Test: England v West Indies, 26-30 July 2024, Edgbaston, Birmingham
