Keaton Jennings and Liam Livingstone picked in England squad for Pakistan Tests

Jennings made 1,233 runs in 17 County Championship innings for Lancashire in 2022 and, as a fine player of spin, is likely to partner Zak Crawley at the top of the order on the three-match trip in December

Keaton Jennings returns to the England Test squad for the tour of Pakistan, while Ben Duckett and Will Jacks have been rewarded for fine domestic seasons with call-ups.

Jennings made 1,233 runs in 17 LV= Insurance County Championship innings for Lancashire in 2022 and, as a fine player of spin, is likely to partner Zak Crawley at the top of the order on the three-match trip in December.

Jacks, the Surrey batsman, averaged 54 in his county's title-winning campaign. Jacks adds an off-spin option, too, which is important in a squad which features just one frontline spin bowler - Jack Leach.

^{Liam Livingstone has been picked in the England Test squad [Getty Images]}

Duckett, who has not featured in Tests for England since 2016, is another option to open the batting. Alex Lees, the Durham opener, has been dropped.

The surprise inclusion is Liam Livingstone, who has barely featured in first-class cricket over the course of the past three years. Since the end of 2019, Livingstone has only played eight matches and has a top score of 25.

Stuart Broad is not included as he and his partner are expecting their first child during the series, while Matt Potts is a notable omission.

The seam bowling unit includes James Anderson, Jamie Overton, Ollie Robinson and Mark Wood, who is picked in a Test squad for the first time since the Caribbean tour in March. 

ENGLAND SQUAD FOR PAKISTAN TESTS

Ben Stokes, James Anderson, Harry Brook, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ben Foakes, Will Jacks, Keaton Jennings, Jack Leach, Liam Livingstone, Jamie Overton, Ollie Pope, Ollie Robinson, Joe Root, Mark Wood

Ben Foakes will keep wicket in Pakistan, but there is no recognised full-time understudy. Both Duckett and Ollie Pope could, in theory, take on the gloves if necessary.

"The selectors have picked a squad for the conditions we can expect in Pakistan," managing director of England men's cricket Rob Key said.

"There is a strong blend of youth and experience and players who will adapt well to the types of pitches we are likely to get across the three-match series.

"I wish the players every success, especially those new to the squad and those returning after a period of time away."

England will take part in a warm-up camp in the UAE in late November before flying to Pakistan for three Tests in the space of three weeks.

Rawalpindi, Multan and Karachi will host the matches, the first between Pakistan and England in Test cricket in Pakistan for 17 years.