England name Patterson-White in South Africa Test squad

England have named uncapped left-arm spinner Liam Patterson-White in a 15-player squad for a three-Test tour of South Africa, with Jacob Bethell returning after a knee injury. Joe Root will captain the side, and the series is scheduled to begin in Johannesburg on December 17, 2026.

Patterson-White, who plays for Nottinghamshire, earned his first Test call-up after taking 42 wickets in County Championship Division One at an average of 25.11. England selector Marcus North said he was the leading spinner in the division and cited his summer performance as the reason for his selection. Patterson-White also scored a century in the competition, according to reports on the squad announcement.

Bethell missed England’s home series against Pakistan with a knee injury and is back in the Test group. The 15-man squad also includes Josh Tongue, who is expected to miss the opening Test to attend the birth of his second child. North said Tongue’s absence would leave 14 members of the squad available for that match, and that England could use players from the Lions group to cover the gap.

Shoaib Bashir has been left out of the senior Test squad and named in the England Lions red-ball squad....