The selectors have confirmed England's 13-man playing squad and nine reserves for the first #raisethebat Test match against West Indies, starting July 8 in Southampton. 

The historic Test, which will mark the return of international cricket in a bio-secure bubble amid the COVID-19 pandemic, will also see all-rounder Ben Stokes become England's 81st men's Test captain in absence of regular skipper Joe Root. 

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Root has left the squad for the birth of his second child and will then self-isolate for seven days before rejoining the side ahead of the next two Tests in Manchester. 

Having recovered following an ankle surgery, opener Rory Burns returns to the side. Burns had been England's in-form batsman during the Ashes at home and on tour to New Zealand, before hurting his ankle playing football in the warm-ups in South Africa. 

Outside of Root's absence and Jonny Bairstow being dropped on poor form, the batting line-up retains its look, with the likes of Jos Buttler, Joe Denly, Ollie Pope, Dom Sibley, Stokes and Burns featuring in there for the face-off against the Calypso Kings. 

The bowling attack comprises of England's two highest Test wicket-takers in James Anderson and Stuart Broad, young pace sensation Jofra Archer, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood. The spin options include Zak Crawley and Dom Bess. 

Moeen Ali, having just returned after his break from Tests, was overlooked, while Jack Leach, who had missed out on the series in South Africa due to health problems, was picked only in reserves. 

England's squad for the first Test against West Indies: Ben Stokes (c), James Anderson, Stuart Broad, Jofra Archer, Dom Bess, Rory Burns, Jos Buttler, Zak Crawley, Joe Denly, Ollie Pope, Dom Sibley, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood

Reserves: James Bracey, Sam Curran, Ben Foakes, Dan Lawrence, Jack Leach, Saqib Mahmood, Craig Overton, Ollie Robinson, Olly Stone