England star recalled following three-year absence for first Test against India… just one week after he broke his finger

• England have named their squad for the first Test against India later this month
• It includes a player who has not made a Test appearance since 2022 

By RICHARD GIBSON

Jamie Overton has been recalled to England’s Test squad following a three-year absence for the opening match of five against India at Headingley.

Overton, 31, won his only previous cap in Leeds three years ago, scoring 97 from No 8 in victory over New Zealand and is named in a 14-strong group despite breaking his right little finger on one-day international duty last week.

With Gus Atkinson ruled out through a right hamstring injury, Essex’s Sam Cook has been retained following his Test debut against Zimbabwe last month.

Josh Tongue and Chris Woakes are also included and will be given the chance to get extra miles in their legs, after their recent injury returns, by featuring for England Lions against India A in a four-day match starting at Northampton on Friday.

England’s hierarchy are keen to ensure their seamers are match-ready for the Leeds contest – the first of five games in just over six weeks.

Tongue won his third cap against Zimbabwe after taking 15 wickets in three appearances for Nottinghamshire on his comeback from a year-long lay-off with injuries while Woakes is also recently returned, playing just one Division One game for Warwickshire since damaging his ankle at the start of 2025.

Jamie Overton (second right) has been named in England’s Test squad to face India

Overton broke his finger while playing in a one-day international for England last week

Overton has not made a Test appearance for England since 2022, but is now back in the fold

ENGLAND SQUAD FOR FIRST TEST AGAINST INDIA

Ben Stokes (Durham)

Shoaib Bashir (Somerset)

Jacob Bethell (Warwickshire)

Harry Brook (Yorkshire)

Brydon Carse (Durham)

Sam Cook (Essex)

Zak Crawley (Kent)

Ben Duckett (Nottinghamshire)

Jamie Overton (Surrey)

Ollie Pope (Surrey)

Joe Root (Yorkshire)

Jamie Smith (Surrey)

Josh Tongue (Nottinghamshire)

Chris Woakes (Warwickshire)

If they come through unscathed, they will join Overton, Cook, Brydon Carse, Shoaib Bashir, and England captain Ben Stokes in the bowling unit.

Jofra Archer, meanwhile, will be asked to prove his readiness for a first Test outing in more than four years – potentially for the third match at Lord’s – in Sussex’s two Championship games at the end of June.

Warwickshire’s Jacob Bethell returns after missing the innings win over the Zimbabweans due to Indian Premier League duty with champions Royal Challengers Bangalore.

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England star recalled following three-year absence for first Test against India… just one week after he broke his finger

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