England Test squad to tour Pakistan has Yorkshire CCC's Joe Root and Harry Brook on board

Livingstone was the eye-catching name in a 15-man squad for the series in December – one that includes Yorkshire’s Joe Root and Harry Brook – and is joined by fellow newcomer Will Jacks.

Keaton Jennings and Ben Duckett return to the Test fold and will both be eyeing the opening slot after former Yorkshire opener Alex Lees was axed, an omission flagged by his failure to earn a central contract this week.

Livingstone has not played first-class cricket in over a year, increasingly focusing his efforts on the shorter forms after becoming a mainstay of England’s limited-overs side.

But, with Moeen Ali backtracking on his Test retirement, there was a vacancy for a big-hitting, spin-bowling all-rounder and the selectors have decided both he and Jacks fit the profile.

There is no doubt that the 29-year-old represents a gamble. He sat out Lancashire’s entire championship season and managed just eight games in the two previous campaigns, averaging 11 in 2021 and 18.5 in 2020.

But he has proved a bombastic player on the biggest stage, smashing his country’s fastest ever international century in just 42 balls against Pakistan last summer and his style is likely to chime with the attacking instincts of captain Ben Stokes and head coach Brendon McCullum.

Livingstone’s bowling is also an attractive option in Pakistan, given his ability to switch easily between off-spin and leg-spin depending on the opponent.

He is not entirely untested against the red ball, with 62 first-class games, seven hundreds and a Test call-up back in 2018 on his CV.

Lees’ omission could spell the end of his Test career, with the Durham left-hander averaging just 23.64 from 10 appearances this year. Zak Crawley continues to enjoy the selectors’ backing despite his own modest record.

As expected, Stuart Broad is absent from the bowling attack, with his fiancee Mollie King expecting their first child next month. Durham’s Matthew Potts is a more surprising absentee given his excellent returns at the start of the summer, when he claimed 20 wickets in five Tests at an average of 28.

England have preferred the height and pace of Jamie Overton, who debuted against New Zealand in June but made a bigger splash with the bat than the ball.

Managing director of men’s cricket Rob Key, who chaired selection, said: “We are looking forward to touring Pakistan as a Test team for the first time since 2005. It will be an historic tour and a compelling series against a good side.

“The selectors have picked a squad for the conditions we can expect in Pakistan. There is a strong blend of youth and experience and players who will adapt well to the types of pitches we are likely to get across the three-match series.”

England Test squad for Pakistan: B Stokes (c), J Anderson, H Brook, Z Crawley, B Duckett, B Foakes, W Jacks, K Jennings, J Leach, L Livingstone, J Overton, O Pope, O Robinson, J Root, M Wood.