Jonny Bairstow, Ben Foakes and Jack Leach were today omitted from the England squad for the first two Tests against the West Indies.
Bairstow and Foakes have tussled for the wicketkeeping role for the last five years but they have both been overlooked with Surrey’s Jamie Smith set to don the gloves for the games at Lord’s and Trent Bridge.
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Smith averages 50.7 in the County Championship this summer, although he rarely keeps wicket for Surrey in red-ball cricket with Foakes first choice.
Spinner Shoaib Bashir gets the nod over Leach after an impressive tour of India over the winter with Nottinghamshire seamer Dillon Pennington also included after taking 29 Championship wickets this season at an average of 23.03.
The first Test at Lord’s will be Jimmy Anderson’s last for England, bringing an end to a remarkable career that sees him bow out as the seamer with the most wickets in history with 700.
Congratulations, lads! 👊
Our Men’s squad for the first two Tests against @windiescricket #EnglandCricket | #ENGvWI pic.twitter.com/mmPqlKDqZf
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) June 30, 2024
ECB managing director for England’s 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.”
