Patterson-White surprise in Fleming's first series

England selectors have named a 15-man squad for the three-match Test series in South Africa this winter. The squad includes left-arm finger spinner Liam Patterson-White, who has yet to play a Test match. Shoaib Bashir has been moved down to the Lions squad. The entire series will be broadcast live on Sky Sports in December and January. It will be Stephen Fleming's first series as head coach.

In Nottinghamshire's 2025 Championship-winning season, Patterson-White took 26 wickets in 11 matches and scored 540 runs. Last season he stood out with 42 wickets and 474 runs in 14 matches. Selector Marcus North said the player is the leading wicket-taking spinner in Division One of the Rothesay County Championship this season and that he had won his first ECB development contract.

Jacob Bethell missed the 3-0 series win over Pakistan in August and September because of a knee injury that required surgery. Bethell has returned to the squad and adds options in the middle order. Jordan Cox batted at No. 3 in Bethell's absence during the Pakistan series and scored a half-century in each of the three Tests at Headingley, Lord's and Edgbaston.

With only three spots left among Cox, Bethell, Emilio Gay and Dan Lawrence, the selection looks tough. Gay scored three half-centuries in the first six Tests after replacing Zak Crawley, and leaving him out appears possible. In that case, Cox or Bethell could open alongside Ben Duckett. Lawrence was recalled for the Pakistan series after Ben Stokes retired from international cricket and was used as the main spinner.

Josh Tongue will miss the first Test as he returns to England for the birth of his first child. Brydon Carse, who is in the Lions squad, is expected to replace him. Carse was dropped from the England squad after the Derby incident in August and was charged by the Cricket Regulator. The decision has not yet been announced. Sam Curran will not feature in the series because of his wedding.