On Wednesday, 30-man training group was announced by England Cricket Board (ECB) and it included 8 uncapped players. The training group has been formed ahead of the Test series against West Indies that will be starting from next month. Earlier last month, ECB named a 55-strong training group. But the selectors have now whittled down the number to those who are more likely to be in contention for the Test side rather than the one-day (ODI) team.
The new group will meet at the Ageas Bowl on June 23 and will remain at the headquarters at Hampshire as they prepare for an intra-squad match on July 1–3. That will give players an opportunity to push for inclusion in the Test squad.
The three-match series against the West Indies starts in Southampton on July 8, behind closed doors, with the second and third tests taking place at Old Trafford.
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The 8 uncapped players in the 30-man squad include Essex batsman Dan Lawrence, Gloucestershire wicketkeeper-batsman James Bracey and Sussex seamer Ollie Robinson. Saqib Mahmood, Lewis Gregory and Matt Parkinson have also yet to appear in Tests but have represented England in limited-overs cricket.
However, there have no major changes in the England squad, which includes skipper Joe Root. Even Rory Burns, Jofra Archer, James Anderson, and Mark Wood were all selected even though they have been making their way back from injury.
England’s assistant coach Paul Collingwood will take over the one-day team hoping a three-match series against Ireland will be able to go ahead later in the season.
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England’s national selector Ed Smith said that the squad for the first Test will be announced in due course.