England bowler Ollie Robinson has been ruled out of the First Test against the West Indies, with uncapped quick Saqib Mahmood included in a 12-man squad.
Robinson has not recovered from a back spasm suffered during England’s warm-up match against a President’s XI earlier this week.
Lancashire seamer Mahmood is therefore in contention to make his debut, with England to wait until the toss before announcing their XI.
Robinson enjoyed a breakout year in Test cricket in 2021 but struggled with fitness problems towards the back end of England’s disastrous Ashes defeat in Australia.
Senior bowlers James Anderson and Stuart Broad were dropped for the tour, while the likes of Sam Curran and Jofra Archer remain out injured, meaning England’s fast-bowling ranks appear stretched.
Chris Woakes, Mark Wood and Craig Overton are expected to play, meaning the final place in the XI is likely to see either Mahmood or spinner Jack Leach miss out.
Alex Lees will make his Test debut at the top of the order alongside Zak Crawley, with Joe Root batting at No3.
Dan Lawrence has, as expected, been given the nod ahead of Ollie Pope to bat at No4, with Ben Stokes, Jonny Bairstow and wicketkeeper Ben Foakes making up the middle order.
England squad for First Test: Root (C), Bairstow, Crawley, Foakes, Lawrence, Leech, Lees, Mahmood, Overton, Stokes, Woakes, Wood
