England vs Pakistan score LIVE: Scorecard from first Test at Lord’s

Joe Root’s first Ashes series as captain saw England thrashed 4-0 by Australia including two defeats by an innings, a margin that they then lost by again two months later against New Zealand.

The changes have been rung by new selector Ed Smith, who has handed off-spinner Dom Bess his Test debut and recalled explosive batsman Jos Buttler, a controversial pick given his lack of recent first-class cricket and unimpressive record in red-ball cricket.

However, he was one of the top performers at the Indian Premier League and that form has earned him the place.

And Bess was handed the perfect debut after Joe Root won the toss and chose to bat, allowing the spinner the chance to bowl later in the game, when the pitch should turn more.

But plenty of pundits, fans and ex-players have criticised the move, with Andrew Flintoff telling Express Sport in an exclusive interview that the pick is a “kick in the teeth” for those who have been playing in county cricket.

“Jos is a lovely lad and a fine player,” Flintoff told Express Sport.

“But whether playing IPL and scoring a few runs on little grounds warrants a Test call-up, I’m not sure. I’m a traditionalist from that point of view.

“You’ve got lads playing county cricket up and down year after year while Jos has barely played a game of red-ball cricket for a while and not performed [when he has].

“It’s a bit of a kick in the teeth for other lads up and down the country.

“But he is a fine player. He’s a match-winner and he’s someone that everyone speaks about wanting in their teams. He’s got a chance.

“I’m not sure I’d have given him this chance but you’ve take it with both hands, however it’s come about, whatever has happened.

“He’s in decent form so just grab onto it - but I think he’s lucky.”