Late injury leaves England in a spin

An ill-timed injury to spinner Jack Leach has left England selectors scrambling for a replacement ahead of their series against Pakistan later this month, while uncapped opener Nick Gubbins has been backed to make his Test debut.

And former Test opener Nick Compton says the need to forge a long-term opening partnership means ex-skipper Alastair Cook should drop down the order to No.3, or not play at all.

Left-arm spinner Leach, who made his debut against New Zealand earlier this year, broke the thumb on his bowling hand on Monday and is set to miss at least the opening Test at Lord's from May 24.

It's left new chief selector Ed Smith with a dearth of spin options to choose from ahead of the announcement of their first Test squad early on Wednesday morning (AET).

Surrey teenager Amar Virdi, who has played just seven first-class games, has the backing of former skipper Michael Vaughan while The Times is reporting selectors are "seriously considering" a call-up for 20-year-old off-spinner Dom Bess.

The obvious option would be a return to 50-Test allrounder Moeen Ali, who was dropped for Leach earlier this year. The 30-year-old has not played first-class cricket since March and is currently in India with IPL franchise Royal Challengers Bangalore.

Leg-spinner Mason Crane, who debuted against Australia in Sydney last January, has not played any cricket since March due to a back injury while left-armer Liam Dawson is also sidelined by a hand injury.

Batsman James Vince, who was dropped and then recalled on the recent New Zealand tour, may have earned himself another chance after a timely match-saving double century for Hampshire on Monday.

But out-of-form incumbent opener Mark Stoneman is under pressure to hold his spot, with both Vaughan and Nasser Hussain backing 24-year-old Gubbins to debut after posting scores of 8, 107 and 99 in three County Championship innings for Middlesex so far this season.

"I have been a fan of Nick Gubbins for the last 18 months," Hussain wrote in The Daily Mail.

"If he comes in now, Stoneman could not have any complaints if he is left out because he didn't nail down a place in the winter."

Compton, meanwhile, says selector Smith "will want to make a statement" with his first squad and has urged the 40-year-old to look beyond just the upcoming home Tests against Pakistan and India.

England are winless in their past 13 Tests away from home and after series defeats in Australia and New Zealand over the winter, Compton says Smith needs to pick players who can thrive in all conditions.

And he believes Cook, England's greatest-ever run-scorer, could even be jettisoned from the side altogether if a long-term view is taken.

"I would like to see Cook bat at number three, or not play," Compton told the BBC.

"England are struggling for a number three at the moment and I think they need a solid number three.

"It might be a stage where you could breed a new opening partnership.

"The big question is, are England going to select a team that is going to beat India and Pakistan this summer? Or are they selecting a team with a two to three-year longevity that build to turn around what has been a woeful overseas record?"

England will play Pakistan in Tests at Lord's and Headingley before the first of five Tests against India begins at Edgbaston on August 1.