England, who are placed fifth in the ICC Test ranking, begin their series against top-ranked India on 1 August at Edgbaston, following the hosts’ victory in the limited-overs series.
Things haven’t been easy for England in the longest format of the game – after a winter without a win, they were stunned by Pakistan at Lord’s, before producing a fine performance at Headingley to draw the series.
The squad for the first Test against India was announced on Thursday by England National Cricket Selectors.
Adil Rashid returns to the squad for the first time since he played in the fifth Test against India at Chennai in December 2016. The leg-spinner has been in fine form in ODIs this summer taking 20 wickets at an average of 23.95 in England’s series victories over Australia and India.
If selected, Rashid, who signed a white-ball only deal with Yorkshire in February, will play his first Test in England having earned his previous 10 away from home.
Seam bowler Jamie Porter earns his first call-up to the Test squad after impressing for Essex and the England Lions over past few seasons. The 25-year-old was named the Specsavers County Championship Player of the Year in 2017 and was instrumental in Essex lifting their first County Championship title since 1992.
Moeen Ali has returned to the squad for the first time since the tour of New Zealand.
The selection panel also confirmed that Chris Woakes requires more time to regain his form after recovering from his recent thigh and knee injury.
England squad for first Test
Joe Root (c), Moeen Ali, James Anderson, Jonny Bairstow (wk), Stuart Broad, Jos Buttler, Alastair Cook, Sam Curran, Keaton Jennings, Dawid Malan, Jamie Porter, Adil Rashid, Ben Stokes
