Cox to replace injured Bethell for Pakistan tests as Root begins new England captaincy stint

Aug 6 : England handed Jordan Cox the number three spot in place of the injured Jacob Bethell for the first two tests of the three-match series against Pakistan later this month, while Joe Root will captain the side on a permanent basis for the first time since 2022.Root, who returns to lead the side after being appointed test captain last month, will work alongside interim head coach Marcus Trescothick before Stephen Fleming takes charge after the series.The 16-man squad includes a recall for Dan Lawrence, who returns to the test setup for the first time since his appearance against Sri Lanka in 2024 and is set to bat at number six after an impressive County Championship campaign.Cox, who made his test debut against New Zealand in June, gets the nod after Bethell was ruled out of the seri