England's Test batting conundrum: Will Jordan Cox, Dan Lawrence or Emilio Gay miss out when Jacob Bethell is fit again?
England will have big decision to make in South Africa this winter when Jacob Bethell is fit again after a knee injury; Jordan Cox has impressed against Pakistan in Bethell's absence and staked claim for longer run in the side, perhaps putting pressure on opener Emilio Gay
Monday 31 August 2026 11:18, UK
Like a finalist on TV game show Countdown, England are going to have to deal with a particularly tricky conundrum.
Ben Stokes' international retirement and Jacob Bethell's knee injury offered opportunities to Jordan Cox and Dan Lawrence in the Test match batting line-up and those have largely been seized, albeit against a struggling Pakistan side.
While we don't think Stokes is going to make a comeback - although don't entirely rule it out - Bethell is set to return for the three-Test series in South Africa over the winter, leaving England with one batter too many for their XI.
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Cox and Lawrence cannot be sure of their places, then, but the same can be said of opener Emilio Gay, who is averaging 23.44 across his first five Tests and has not passed 33 in his last six innings since back-to-back fifties against New Zealand.
England have made light work of Pakistan, securing a first Test series win since December 2024 - one they will attempt to turn into a 3-0 sweep at Edgbaston from September 9 - so could simply decide to keep faith with a winning team.
But the chances of Bethell not slotting back in immediately when fit appear incredibly remote with the 22-year-old viewed as a generational talent. He has hit hundreds for his country in all three formats over last year or so, including an excellent Ashes ton.
Add in his handy left-arm spin bowling and excellence in the field, and he looks set to be a regular for years, likely, if not definitely, at No 3. However, that does not mean Cox, who has batted at first drop against Pakistan in Bethell's absence, is the obvious fall guy.
Cox stakes claim for regular place in England XI
While Cox has made his name principally as a dasher in white-ball cricket - he was the MVP in The Hundred in 2025 after starring for Oval Invincibles - his first-class record stands up: over 4,000 runs in 66 games at an average of 43.27 with 12 centuries.
What has also stood up in his nascent Test career is his temperament and technique, with his successive fifties against Pakistan, across matches in Leeds and at Lord's, each coming after he came out to bat early on with the ball doing more than a bit.
Cox has an authority at the crease but that is in defence as well as attack and he notably reined himself in on the first day at Lord's after a pretty brisk start. He had spoken before the game about wanting to bat time and proved he could do just that.
The frustration will be that he has not yet converted a half-century into three figures, although he did fall to an astounding slip catch from Salman Agha in the second Test.
If Cox does stay in the side long term, then one of Gay, middle-order batter Lawrence and wicketkeeper Jamie Smith would probably have to be elbowed out.
Cox can also keep wicket so the chat before the Pakistan series was that he could be an alternative to Smith in that role should the latter struggle with the bat and/or the gloves again, having endured a trying time during the Ashes hammering in Australia last winter.
But Smith's first-innings 61 was his second fifty of the summer and his keeping has been pretty much impeccable, both stood back and up close to the stumps. The appointment of former England Women wicketkeeper Sarah Taylor as fielding coach has aided that.
There seems little chance Smith loses his spot now, while Lawrence has notched two half-centuries from the No 6 position against Pakistan - the second of them a counterattacking knock in bowler-friendly conditions at Lord's that featured an outrageous six over extra-cover - around a dozy run out for 17.
Lawrence is also the chief spin as England go in with an all-pace frontline attack.
England could leave out Lawrence and ask Bethell to be the principal spinner but having both of those players in the XI as slow-bowling options may come in handy, particularly if Joe Root's return as captain means he becomes reluctant to bowl his own off-spin.
Gay unlucky at Lord's - but probably needs a score at Edgbaston
Which brings us to Gay.
It's not as if the Durham batter's promotion to international cricket hasn't worked, although he does look susceptible to balls angled across him.
Gay scored a half-century on debut on a dismal Lord's pitch against New Zealand and followed that up with a fifty across London at The Oval in the next Test of that series.
He doesn't seem overawed by the step up, plays some beautiful strokes, particularly through the off-side, and also has the ability to dig in when a bowler is on top.
Plus, he was the victim of some horrendous luck in the second innings at Lord's when, having ground his way to 31, he was pinned lbw by an unplayable delivery from Mohammad Abbas that scuttled through at shin height.
You had to feel for him, following on from falling to a leg-side strangle first time around.
But, ultimately, you need to score runs and with Cox and Lawrence doing that, Gay has suddenly become a little vulnerable, especially with Cox an option to open having performed that role to a significant degree in county cricket before.
Gay may need a big score at Edgbaston when the Pakistan series resumes.
After that game, the countdown to the South Africa series will begin, with that tour marking the first assignment for new head coach Stephen Fleming. How will he look to solve this batting conundrum?
Watch day one of England's third Test against Pakistan, from Edgbaston, live on Sky Sports Cricket and Sky Sports Main Event from 10am on Wednesday September 9 (11am first ball). Not got Sky? Latest Sky Sports deals or stream contract-free with NOW.
England vs Pakistan - results and schedule
All games live on Sky Sports
- First Test (Headingley) - England won by innings and 103 runs
- Second Test (Lord's) - England won by 194 runs
- Third Test (Edgbaston) - September 9-13
