England selectors name 12-man squad for first Test against South Africa

The match will start  at Lord’s on July 6.

"Middlesex seamer Toby Roland-Jones, who made his ODI debut in June at Lord’s against Ireland, is the only uncapped player in the squad and is in contention to make his England Test debut on his home ground having taken 22 wickets in the Specsavers County Championship during this campaign," the cricket board said in a statement.

Gary Ballance and Hampshire spinner Liam Dawson have been added to the team.

Durham’s Mark Wood is returning to the Test team for the first time since October 2015.

"Jake Ball (right knee) and Chris Woakes (side strain) were not available for selection due to injury," the board said.

Joe Root, who was appointed England’s Test captain in February, is all set to lead the side for the first time.

Chairman of Selectors James Whitaker was quoted as saying by the official website of the board: “There is great excitement around the first Test of the summer and with the start of a new era under the captaincy of Joe Root this is an exciting time for English cricket."

England's first Test squad to face South Africa:

Joe Root (Yorkshire) (Captain)

Moeen Ali (Worcestershire)

James Anderson (Lancashire)

Jonathan Bairstow (Yorkshire)

Gary Ballance (Yorkshire)

Stuart Broad (Nottinghamshire)

Alastair Cook (Essex)

Liam Dawson (Hampshire)

Keaton Jennings (Durham) 

Toby Roland-Jones (Middlesex)

Ben Stokes (Durham)

Mark Wood (Durham)

Investec Test Series Fixtures:

July 6-10: First Investec Test Match, Lord’s Cricket Ground, London

July 14-18: Second Investec Test Match, Trent Bridge, Nottingham

July 27-31: Third Investec Test Match, Kia Oval, London

August 4-8: Fourth Investec Test Match, Emirates Old Trafford, Manchester

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