Sports · Cricket · 1 hr ago
England call up Liam Patterson-White for South Africa Tests
England have named uncapped spinner Liam Patterson-White in their Test squad for a three-match tour of South Africa starting on 17 December.
The 15-player squad leaves out Shoaib Bashir, while Patterson-White earned his place after taking 42 wickets in the County Championship this season.
England say they can use Joe Root, Dan Lawrence and Jacob Bethell as other spin options, and selector Marcus North said conditions in the first two Tests may favour fast bowlers.
Bethell returns after a knee injury, but England have not decided how to fit him into the batting order.
Fast bowler Josh Tongue is expected to miss the first Test, and Brydon Carse could be called up from the Lions as cover.
Carse has not been selected for an England team since an August incident outside a Derby nightclub; the accounts differ on the status of the cricket regulator’s case against him.
England will assess Lions players in South Africa and expect to bring one or two into the Test squad before the opening match.
Uncapped Nottinghamshire spinner Liam Patterson-White has earned his first England Test call-up for the three-Test tour of South Africa.
England named a 15-player squad, with the series set to begin in Johannesburg on 17 December.
Patterson-White took 42 wickets in the County Championship this summer, the most of any spinner.
Shoaib Bashir was left out of the Test squad and will travel with the Lions.
Brydon Carse was named in the Lions squad, with England considering one or two players from that group to cover for Josh Tongue in the first Test.
- Who
- Liam Patterson-White, an uncapped Nottinghamshire spinner, was called up to England’s Test squad.
- What
- England named a 15-player squad for a three-Test tour of South Africa.
- When
- The squad was announced on 9 November 2026; the series begins on 17 December.
- Where
- South Africa, with the first Test scheduled for Johannesburg.
- Why
- Patterson-White’s selection followed a County Championship season in which he took 42 wickets, the most of any spinner.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Patterson-White took 42 wickets in the County Championship, the most of any spinner.
England announced its 15-player Test squad for the South Africa tour, including Patterson-White.
Lions players are due to join some of England’s red-ball Test players in South Africa.
The three-Test series is scheduled to begin in Johannesburg.
- Test squad size
- 15 players
- Patterson-White’s County Championship wickets
- 42
- Series length
- Three Tests
- First Test venue
- Johannesburg
- First Test date
- 17 December
- Lions call-ups for first Test
- One or two players may be promoted to cover for Josh Tongue
7 sources
Patterson-White tops the pecking order as England reassess spin stocks
England name Test squad vs South Africa: Uncapped spinner preferred to Shoaib Bashir
Brydon Carse can work way back into England team with Lions stint – Marcus North
Uncapped Notts spinner Patterson-White earns England Test call-up for South Africa
England clear way for Carse return and drop Bashir
What people are saying
We were looking for someone to spin the ball away from the right-hander
Highveld tends to not spin as much, so it tends to be more favourable for the pace bowlers.