Jordan Cox will bat at No 3 for England in the first two Tests against Pakistan, a position he has never filled in first-class cricket, but he welcomes the clarity from selector Marcus North.
Unfamiliar role
Cox, who has opened for Kent in county cricket for two years, was told by North to "do what you've been doing, don't change the way you've been playing in county cricket, go have fun and embrace the challenge". He said: "I don't think I've ever batted three before but I've opened for probably two years in county cricket for Kent. So look, it will be fun, I'm looking forward to it."
The right-hander's only previous first-class match at No 3 was in 2019 as an 18-year-old against Nottinghamshire, when he was dismissed twice by Ravichandran Ashwin. He has since sparkled for Essex as a thumping presence at No 4, striking a 201-ball 204 against Leicestershire in June.
Challenge ahead
The challenge for Cox is significant, particularly if he is called upon early to take on Pakistan's new-ball master Mohammad Abbas. He has had the last few days off to prepare after his Hundred campaign at Welsh Fire ended with a group-stage exit.
Josh Tongue and Gus Atkinson, winners in Sunday's final between Trent Rockets and Manchester Super Giants, were absent from England's rain-interrupted training session on Monday at Headingley. They will feature in Tuesday's practice, with a 16-man squad stacked with seam options if the pair have any issues. Brydon Carse, who played for Sunrisers Leeds in Friday's Eliminator at the Oval, was among those bowling as he aims to play his first Test since the Ashes.
Pakistan concerns
Pakistan are still to make a call on whether Babar Azam, their captain and star batter, will be fit to play the first Test. Babar suffered a blow to his right hand while batting in a warm-up fixture last week at Beckenham, forcing him to retire hurt.
Abbas said a decision on Babar's participation will be taken on the day of the match. "Hopefully he will be fine," said Abbas. "The medical team is looking at him. He played some balls [at training], a few throw-downs."
The Pakistan seamer sounded more hopeful about the prospect of Shan Masood featuring. Their former captain broke a finger in the first Test against West Indies last month and offers valuable experience in these conditions, having scored a ton on Pakistan's last Test tour of England six years ago and made County Championship hundreds for Yorkshire, Derbyshire and Leicestershire.
