Dan Lawrence and Jordan Cox have been earmarked to play in England's first Test against Pakistan with Jacob Bethell set to miss the three-match series because of a right knee injury. The post-Ben Stokes era starts at Headingley on August 19 and Surrey's batting all-rounder Lawrence is set to have the first crack at trying to fill the prodigious shoes of the former Test captain. Cox's own injury misfortune meant he only made his Test debut against New Zealand at the Kia Oval in June, when he was down at seven, but he is set for a more prominent role. England head into the curtain-raiser against Pakistan having lost seven of their past nine Tests while they are without a series win since December 2024. National selector and former Australia batter and WA captain Marcus North said: "We have selected a squad for the first two Tests that balances rising talent with the experience needed against a quality Pakistan team.