Matthew Potts will make his Test return in place of Ben Stokes, as England retain five bowlers at Emirates Old Trafford even in the absence of their captain.

In another significant development for the side, Harry Brook has been appointed as vice-captain for the three Tests against Sri Lanka, providing support for Ollie Pope, who will lead England for the first time. After Brook was appointed as captain for Northern Superchargers in this year’s Hundred, it is another indication that England are grooming a new generation of leaders.

England’s XI for the first Test on Wednesday will see Durham’s Potts, who has played just one of the previous 21, win a recall to the side as part of a four-pronged seam attack. Chris Woakes will bat at No 7 – where he hit 137 not out against India at Lord’s in 2018 – with Gus Atkinson promoted to No 8.

Potts, who hit 149 not out for Durham earlier this season after working intensively on his batting in the winter, will bat at No 9. Mark Wood will complete the pace attack, with Shoaib Bashir retained as spinner.

Pope, who has only captained in one first-class match, addressed the squad and management on the outfield at Old Trafford. Stokes, who was ruled out of all the series against Sri Lanka with a serious hamstring tear, faces a race against time to be fit for the three Tests in Pakistan in October.

Potts, who is 25, is a highly skilled seamer who generates pace of around 85mph. In 2022, Potts took 20 wickets in five home Tests, including dismissing New Zealand’s star batsman Kane Williamson three times. Since then, because of the return to fitness of Woakes and Wood and the emergence of Atkinson, Potts has only played in last year’s Test against Ireland.

In India last winter, Potts took 20 wickets at 17 apiece for England Lions, impressing the management with his accuracy and skill in conditions that did not favour seam. He is renowned for bowling very wide of the crease on occasion, generating an awkward angle for batsmen.