England have dropped Shoaib Bashir from their squad for the three-Test series against South Africa, with Nottinghamshire’s Liam Patterson-White earning his first international call-up after an impressive County Championship campaign.
The 28-year-old left-arm spinner has been rewarded for taking 42 wickets at an average of 25.11 in Division One this season, the best return by any spinner in the competition. His ability to contribute with the bat, having also scored 474 runs, offers England an additional option in the lower order.
Patterson-White was equally influential in Nottinghamshire’s 2025 title-winning campaign, claiming 26 wickets and scoring 540 runs. His selection represents a significant change in England’s spin-bowling plans, with Bashir having been their preferred specialist option in recent seasons.
The 23-year-old will instead join the England Lions for their tour of South Africa, although national selector Marcus North stressed that the decision did not signal a loss of faith in his potential.
“We feel that Liam gives us the best balance and that spinner for this tour of South Africa,” North said.
“He [Bashir] is someone that we do still have a very positive outlook for. We will continue to be incredibly invested in Shoaib over the winter.”
Jacob Bethell has also returned to the 15-man squad after recovering from the knee injury that forced him to miss England’s 3-0 Test series victory over Pakistan. His availability, however, creates a selection headache for new head coach Stephen Fleming.
Jordan Cox strengthened his position at No 3 with three consecutive half-centuries against Pakistan, while Emilio Gay also impressed, registering three fifties in his first six Tests. Dan Lawrence provides another middle-order alternative and offers useful part-time spin.
With Ben Duckett established at the top of the order, England face difficult decisions over how to accommodate Bethell, Cox, Gay and Lawrence.
Fast bowler Brydon Carse could also return to the senior group during the tour. Included in both Lions squads, he is working his way back into the international environment following a disciplinary matter stemming from an incident in Derby in August.
Josh Tongue will miss the first Test while returning home for the birth of his second child, potentially opening the door for Carse or another Lions bowler.
England’s tour begins at the Wanderers in Johannesburg on 17 December, followed by the Boxing Day Test at Centurion and the final match at Newlands in Cape Town from 3 January.
England Test squad for South Africa tour
Joe Root (Yorkshire, captain)
Jofra Archer (Sussex)
Gus Atkinson (Surrey)
Sonny Baker (Hampshire)
Jacob Bethell (Warwickshire)
Harry Brook (Yorkshire)
Sam Cook (Essex)
Jordan Cox (Essex)
Ben Duckett (Nottinghamshire)
Emilio Gay (Durham)
Dan Lawrence (Surrey)
Liam Patterson-White (Nottinghamshire)
Ollie Robinson (Sussex)
Jamie Smith (Surrey)
Josh Tongue (Nottinghamshire)
