England selector Marcus North said the team would not remain focused on the retirement of captain and key player Ben Stokes as they prepare for their first Test series after the end of the Bazball era.
North announced a 16-man squad on Thursday for the first two Tests against Pakistan and confirmed that Surrey batter Dan Lawrence would take the number six position, replacing all-rounder Stokes in the middle order.
Jordan Cox will bat at number three in the first Test on August 19 because injured Jacob Bethell is unavailable. Former vice-captain Ollie Pope and fast bowler Brydon Carse have also returned to the squad.
The three-Test series comes only weeks after Stokes retired from international cricket and England removed head coach Brendon McCullum from the Test role. The pair introduced an aggressive style of cricket known as Bazball in 2022.
McCullum left the Test coaching position last month after England lost a series 2-1 against New Zealand, although he remains in charge of the white-ball teams.
Joe Root will lead England again after being appointed captain, while Marcus Trescothick will work as interim head coach.
New Zealand’s Stephen Fleming, who will replace McCullum, will begin his role as England Test head coach during the series against South Africa in December.
North, who previously worked as director of cricket at Durham where Stokes played county cricket, praised the former captain and said England must look ahead.
“We have been very fortunate to have someone like Ben as a world-class all-rounder in our set-up,” North said.
He added that England had the opportunity to develop new plans after Stokes decided to retire.
North said Dan Lawrence, who has not played Test cricket for two years, would join Harry Brook and Jamie Smith in a strong middle order.
“We feel he is a better and more experienced player than he was when he last played for England,” North said.
He said selecting the six best available batters for the first two Tests showed England’s belief in their approach and their aim to score more runs.
North played 21 Tests for Australia but said he had a strong connection with English cricket after living in the country for 12 years and working at Durham for nearly eight years.
He rejected concerns about the limited number of English coaches in the national set-up and said Fleming was committed to improving both players and coaches.
North also confirmed that Fleming had been consulted about the Pakistan series squad before officially beginning his England role.
England have lost seven of their last nine Tests and are trying to improve from fifth place in the world rankings.
North said England’s target was to become the best Test team in the world.
“Our ambition is very clear. There is a process and a journey ahead, but our focus is being the best Test team in the world,” he said.
