England have found no room for Jonny Bairstow or Moeen Ali among the 22 players named for next week’s first Test against West Indies.
Instead, the spinner’s role has been entrusted to Somerset’s 22-year-old Dom Bess, who impressed during England’s 3-1 win in South Africa earlier this year. And, in a further blow to Bairstow’s hopes of reclaiming his Test place, Ben Foakes has been named as second-choice wicketkeeper behind vice-captain Jos Buttler.
The 22 are divided into two groups: a first-choice squad of 13, from which the final 11 will be chosen on Wednesday morning at Southampton’s Ageas Bowl.