London: Dan Lawrence was recalled by England after two years Thursday to play in the first test against Pakistan and Jacob Bethell was ruled out of the three-match series by a right knee injury. The post-Ben Stokes era starts in Leeds August 19, and Surrey batting allrounder Lawrence will have the first crack at trying to fill the prodigious shoes of the former test captain. Former vice-captain Ollie Pope was back after being discarded during the Ashes series in Australia where he averaged 20.83 before making way for Bethell. Seamer Sam Cook was also in, after his lone test appearance against Zimbabwe in May 2025. England has lost seven of its last nine tests and not won a series since December 2024.