Nottinghamshire seamer Jake Ball is all set to make his England Test debut against Pakistan in the first Investec Test match, starting tomorrow at 11am, as the hosts prepare for a challenging four-match series.
Ball is expected to take the place of James Anderson, who is still sidelined with a shoulder injury – although the Lancashire quick is expected to return to the side for the second Test.
The match also marks an England return for Gary Ballance, instead of Nick Compton, while Joe Root will shift up the batting order to Number Three, with Alex Hales again partnering Cook at the top of the order.
Hampshire's James Vince retains his place could face a major challenge after flattering to deceive in England's straightforward 2-0 Investec Test Series triumph over Sri Lanka earlier in the summer.
Since then, England have gone undefeated in the Royal London ODI series, winning 3-0 and took the spoils in the sole International T20, before the players went back to their counties for long-form preparation. Ballance beat off stiff competition from the likes of Durham's Scott Borthwick and Essex man Tom Westley, while England declined to bring Ben Stokes back into the side after a knee problem. Anderson's Lancashire teammate Jos Buttler also misses out despite impressive displays in the shorter formats.
England may face a selection headache or two when Anderson and Stokes return to the fold, but captain Cook said it will be a 'special moment' for uncapped 25-year-old bowler Ball.
Cook said: "It's a very special moment for him. He's been very impressive this year."
On Root's move up the order, Cook was confident the Yorkshire maestro could cope with the added pressure of coming in at first drop.
He added: "To me, it doesn't really matter what number you bat. He is a world-class player and one of the best all-round batsmen in the game."
Pakistan, who welcome back Mohammad Amir to Test cricket for the first time since he was banned for match-fixing in 2010, also boast the experience of captain Misbah-ul-Haq and star batsman Younus Khan, as well as Amir's swing and the mystery leg-spin of Yasir Shah.
Left-arm seamer Amir took four wickets against Somerset in a warm-up match at Taunton last week and his skipper Misbah-ul-Haq was quick to downplay the controversy surrounding the return of his bowling spearhead.
"He is just focusing on what he has to come and do, and he's really responding well to that," said Misbah. "There are no worries for us."
If England can win this series, they will hold all nine trophies against the major Test-playing sides.
England and Pakistan lock horns from 11am at Lord's tomorrow in the first of four Investec Test matches, before five Royal London One-Day Internationals, with the fifth and final match at The SSE SWALEC, Cardiff.
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