England call up Crane and rest Archer for Pakistan series

Leg-spinner Mason Crane could play for England for the first time in eight years after being recalled for the one-day international tri-series in Pakistan.

The 29-year-old won his only Test cap against Australia in Sydney in 2018 and is now given an opportunity in the series which also involves Sri Lanka next month.

Crane, who also played two T20 internationals in 2017, could also push his case in the fight to be England's number one spinner in Test cricket.

Sam Curran and Adil Rashid both return after injuries, and uncapped pair James Coles and Henry Crocombe are included.

Jos Buttler is out with the hamstring injury he sustained last week, while Jacob Bethell is continuing his recovery from knee surgery.

Brydon Carse, who is under an investigation from the Cricket Regulator following an incident outside a nightclub in Derby in August, remains absent.

England squad for tri-series in Pakistan: Harry Brook (Yorkshire – captain), Gus Atkinson (Surrey), Sonny Baker (Hampshire), Tom Banton (Somerset), James Coles (Sussex), Jordan Cox (Essex), Mason Crane (Glamorgan), Henry Crocombe (Sussex), Sam Curran (Surrey), Liam Dawson (Hampshire), Ben Duckett (Nottinghamshire), Will Jacks (Surrey), Jamie Overton (Surrey), Adil Rashid (Yorkshire), Joe Root (Yorkshire), Josh Tongue (Nottinghamshire).

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England are on a diet of white-ball cricket until three Tests in South Africa in December as they build up to the 50-over World Cup in southern Africa next year.

The tri-series in Pakistan involves the three teams taking part playing each other twice, with the top two advancing to the final. Following the trip to Pakistan, England play three one-day internationals and five T20s in Australia in November.

As England continue to shape their backroom staff following the arrival of Stephen Fleming as Test coach, Jeetan Patel, Mike Yardy, David Saker and Carl Hopkinson will assist white-ball head coach Brendon McCullum in Pakistan.

That means Marcus Trescothick, who took temporary charge of the Test team for the series against Pakistan in the home summer, misses the trip.

It is understood the make-up of the coaching staff is part of a plan to rotate the coaches – fielding coach Sarah Taylor and fast-bowling coach Tim Southee are also not going to Pakistan.

All of Trescothick, Taylor and Southee are likely to be part of England's coaching team for other tours this winter.

Can Crane push case for spot in Test squad?

The return of Glamorgan's Crane is eye-catching, given the close proximity of the World Cup and the uncertainty surrounding the spin-bowling in England's Test team.

The former Hampshire man is rewarded for consistent performances across formats in domestic cricket.

This season Crane took 34 wickets in the County Championship and demonstrated his improvement with the bat by making his first two first-class hundreds.

England national selector Marcus North said: "Mason Crane has been performing consistently for Glamorgan across both formats during the summer. He's an experienced, high-class leg-spinner who thoroughly deserves another opportunity at international level."

Archer is a first choice in all three formats for England and his absence from the Pakistan trip is a clear indication of how the pace bowlers could be managed across the winter.

McCullum has already indicated other seamers could skip the T20 series in Australia in order to prepare for the three Tests in South Africa.

England are expected to name their squad for the Australia tour, along with their new list of centrally contracted players, next week.

Pakistan, Sri Lanka & England tri-series schedule

There will be live Test Match Special commentary of all matches on England's tour of Pakistan

18 October – Pakistan v Sri Lanka, Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium (10:00 BST)

20 October – Pakistan v England, Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium (10:00 BST)

22 October – Sri Lanka v England, Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium (10:00 BST)

25 October – Pakistan v England, Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore (09:00 GMT)

27 October – Pakistan v Sri Lanka, Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore (09:00 GMT)

29 October – Sri Lanka v England, Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore (09:00 GMT)

31 October – Tri-series final, Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore (09:00 GMT)

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