England recall Buttler

London, May 15: England selectors on Tuesday gave a surprise recall to explosive wicketkeeper-batsman Jos Buttler to the Test squad for the first Test against Pakistan at Lords, starting on May 24.

Buttler, who is currently impressing for Rajasthan Royals at the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL), is expected to play as a specialist batsman at number seven. He has not played Test cricket since England's Test against India in Chennai in December 2016.

Also in the squad is Mark Wood, who left the IPL early in order to push his claim for a place in England's Test side.

England's new national selector Ed Smith has also called up uncapped off-spinner Dom Bess following an injury to his Somerset spin twin Jack Leach, who played in the side's previous Test against New Zealand. Bess, 20, has an average of 22.49 from 16 first-class games. IANS