Nottinghamshire’s Stuart Broad has been named in the England squad for the first Specsavers Ashes Test of the summer at Edgbaston, starting on Thursday (August 1).
The right-arm quick will be looking to cement his place in the red-ball side and back up his performance during England’s second innings demolition of Ireland earlier this week, in which he took 4-19.
Broad, who currently has 444 Test wickets for England, will join up with the England squad in Birmingham on Monday.
He’ll be joined by fellow pacemen Jofra Archer, who has been named in a Test squad for the first time following his World Cup heroics, while Jimmy Anderson is also in the party and is expected to be fit after suffering a calf strain.
Ben Stokes and Jos Buttler return after being rested, with the Durham all-rounder reappointed Test vice-captain for the series following the recommendation from Managing Director of England Men’s Cricket Ashley Giles and ECB Chief Executive Tom Harrison.
Somerset duo Lewis Gregory and Jack Leach miss out despite the left-arm spinner’s extraordinary 92 in the victory over Ireland.
Commenting on the selection of the squad, National Selector Ed Smith said:
“Though it is unusual to select a squad of 14 for a home Test, there are compelling reasons to do so here.
“Several bowlers are recovering from injuries or niggles. In addition, some bowlers who played in the World Cup are being closely monitored to assess their preparation for Test match cricket.
“The wider circumstances - a successful home World Cup campaign followed so quickly by a home Ashes series - are unprecedented.
“It feels sensible to select an expanded squad and leave a number of bowling options open for the final team selection.”
Full England squad for the first Specsavers Ashes Test against Australia at Edgbaston: Joe Root (Yorkshire) captain, Moeen Ali (Worcestershire), Jimmy Anderson (Lancashire), Jofra Archer (Sussex), Jonny Bairstow (Yorkshire), Stuart Broad (Nottinghamshire), Rory Burns (Surrey), Jos Buttler (Lancashire), Sam Curran (Surrey), Joe Denly (Kent), Jason Roy (Surrey), Ben Stokes (Durham) vice-captain, Olly Stone (Warwickshire) and Chris Woakes (Warwickshire).
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Following a record midweek crowd of 13,691 against Northamptonshire Steelbacks, there are five further opportunities to catch the Outlaws in T20 action at Trent Bridge this summer.