England summon 2 batsmen for 3rd test vs South Africa

Published Jul. 20, 2017 8:13 a.m. ET

LONDON (AP) Essex batsman Tom Westley will make his England debut against South Africa as Gary Ballance's replacement in the third test at The Oval next week.

England's selectors made the unusual decision on Thursday to confirm Westley was playing, and batting at No. 3. Ballance broke a finger in the 340-run loss in the second test at Trent Bridge.

Middlesex batsman Dawid Malan also made the 13-man squad for the first time, and will fight for a start with spin-bowling allrounder Liam Dawson. Malan, who debuted for England last month in Twenty20 and scored 78 against South Africa, was an option if England want to bolster its batting and not play a second spinner.

Westley has already played the Proteas, scoring 106 not out for the England Lions last month. He's averaging 53.11 in the County Championship, with two centuries.

The third test starts next Thursday. The four-test series is at 1-1.

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England: Joe Root (captain), Moeen Ali, James Anderson, Jonathan Bairstow, Stuart Broad, Alastair Cook, Liam Dawson, Keaton Jennings, Dawid Malan, Toby Roland-Jones, Ben Stokes, Tom Westley, Mark Wood.