England have sprung a surprise in their 15-member Test squad for the upcoming tour of South Africa, handing a maiden call-up to Nottinghamshire all-rounder Liam Patterson-White. The 28-year-old left-arm spinner has been selected ahead of Shoaib Bashir and Rehan Ahmed. The squad also marks the first Test selection under new head coach Stephen Fleming.

One of the most notable features of the squad is the absence of a specialist spinner. England have opted for Patterson-White as their primary left-arm spin option, while Joe Root, Dan Lawrence and returning all-rounder Jacob Bethell can also contribute with the ball if required.

Patterson-White earned his place after an impressive County Championship campaign with Nottinghamshire. He finished as the leading spinner in the First Division, claiming 42 wickets at an average of 25.11. He also scored a century during the season, demonstrating his value as a genuine all-rounder. Last month, he was rewarded with a development contract from the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB).

England men's selector Marcus North praised the consistency and maturity Patterson-White has developed over the past two seasons. North said the spinner had performed exceptionally well for Nottinghamshire and could both control the flow of runs and make an impact during the latter stages of a match.

England had also considered Jack Leach as a potential option against South Africa's right-handed batters. However, the left-arm spinner, who last played Test cricket in October 2024, was not included in the squad.

Jacob Bethell has returned to the Test setup after missing England's home series against Pakistan because of a knee injury. However, his exact batting position remains undecided. Jordan Cox performed well in his absence, and England are considering several options, including using either Bethell or Cox as an opener.

North confirmed that England have not yet finalised their top six for the South Africa series. He said the team would use the available preparation time to assess the batting options before making a final decision.

All-rounder Sam Curran will miss the tour because of his wedding commitments. Meanwhile, fast bowler Josh Tongue is expected to miss the first Test to be with his wife for the birth of their second child. He is also seeking specialist medical advice in the United Kingdom after suffering a toe injury. England remain hopeful that he will be available for the rest of the series.

In Tongue's absence, England could turn to the 18-member England Lions red-ball squad. Among the six fast bowlers in that group, four have Test experience, including Brydon Carse. Carse, who was temporarily left out of the national setup following an incident at a nightclub in Derby in August, will initially remain with the Lions.

England are also planning to promote one or two players from the Lions squad before the opening Test.

The three-match Test series will begin on December 17. The first two Tests are scheduled to take place at the Wanderers in Johannesburg and SuperSport Park in Centurion. The Lions squad will arrive in Pietermaritzburg on November 25 to begin preparations, while several England players will join the tour after completing their commitments in Australia.