Uncapped Ansari wins place in England test squad

Uncapped Surrey all-rounder Zafar Ansari was named in England’s squad on Tuesday for the forthcoming three test series against Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates.

Left-armer Ansari, 23, is the third spinner in the 16-man team alongside Moeen Ali and Adil Rashid.

Moeen could be used as an opening batsman with captain Alistair Cook, although uncapped Alex Hales has also been included, despite failing to impress in the one-day international series against Australia.

There was no place, however, for opener Adam Lyth or Gary Ballance, both deemed to have failed during the Ashes test series against Australia that England won 3-2.

Batsman James Taylor won a test spot after some impressive performances in the one-day international series against the Australians.

“Zafar Ansari’s potential excites us and he will provide strong competition for Adil Rashid and Moeen Ali in the Test squad after enjoying an excellent domestic season with both bat and ball for Surrey,” national selector James Whitaker said in a England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) statement.

“Alex Hales has scored heavily for Nottinghamshire in first-class cricket this season, has shown he can play match-winning innings for England in white-ball cricket and fully deserves an opportunity to compete for a place at the top of the order in our Test side.”

Ansari, who has a degree in politics and sociology from Cambridge University, played down his chances of breaking into the playing eleven.

“It’s going to be hard,” he told Sky Sports News. “There are a lot of guys there who have been playing well.

“If the opportunity comes, then great, but if not I’m gonna run on with the drinks with as much energy as possible!”

The first test starts on 13 October in Abu Dhabi, followed by matches in Dubai (22 October) and Sharjah (1 November).

A four-match ODI series and three Twenty20 matches follow.

Test squad: Alastair Cook (captain), Moeen Ali, James Anderson, Zafar Ansari, Jonny Bairstow, Ian Bell, Stuart Broad, Jos Buttler, Steven Finn, Alex Hales, Liam Plunkett, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Ben Stokes, James Taylor, Mark Wood.