England have made a notable shake-up ahead of the opening Test of their home summer against New Zealand at Lord’s, dropping both Zak Crawley and Ollie Pope from the 15-man squad. The selection introduces three debutants—Durham batter Emilio Gay, Hampshire fast bowler Sonny Baker, and Somerset wicketkeeper-batter James Rew—alongside a group of returning Test players, as the hosts aim to reset their top-order fortunes after a disappointing Ashes campaign.
Squad changes and Test call-ups
- Zak Crawley and Ollie Pope have been left out for the first match of the series, with England choosing to pivot from their previous batting unit after the Ashes.
- Emilio Gay earns his maiden Test selection. The 26-year-old has been a standout performer in Division One, amassing 552 runs at an average of 92 for Durham, including three centuries.
- Sonny Baker receives his first Test call-up. England’s decision highlights their continued push toward pace, with the Hampshire seamer having taken 14 wickets in the current County Championship and viewed as one of the quickest emerging bowlers in county cricket. Baker also made his white-ball debut last year.
- James Rew is named in the squad for his Test debut. The 22-year-old left-handed wicketkeeper-batter has already struck 12 first-class centuries, the most by any player aged 22 or under in County Championship history, and has impressed for Somerset and the England Lions.
- Rehan Ahmed, Matthew Fisher, and Ollie Robinson have been recalled to the Test setup, returning to the group for the June 4 start at Lord’s.
- Rehan Ahmed’s inclusion comes after he already played 10 Tests, though all of those appearances have been overseas, meaning he is yet to feature in a home Test.
- Jacob Bethell, who is currently with Royal Challengers Bengaluru, is set to join the Test squad immediately after his IPL commitments end.
- Ollie Robinson returns after his last Test appearance in February 2024, while Matthew Fisher is back in contention following strong county form.
- England have confirmed Jofra Archer will miss the opening Test as they continue to manage his return to red-ball cricket after a prolonged stretch away due to franchise duties.
Crawley’s Ashes output was 273 runs at an average of 27, while Pope scored 125 runs across three Tests before being excluded for the last two games of the series. England’s latest selections reflect a clear preference for form in county cricket and a willingness to back players with room to grow at Test level.
England squad for the 1st Test
- Ben Stokes (c)
- Rehan Ahmed
- Gus Atkinson
- Sonny Baker
- Shoaib Bashir
- Jacob Bethell
- Harry Brook
- Ben Duckett
- Matthew Fisher
- Emilio Gay
- James Rew
- Ollie Robinson
- Joe Root
- Jamie Smith
- Josh Tongue
ECB appointment: Marcus North as Men’s National Selector
Alongside the squad announcement, the ECB has named former Australia batter Marcus North as England Men’s National Selector. North joins from Durham, where he served as Director of Cricket since 2018.
In his new role, North will collaborate with Rob Key, captains, and coaches across the pathway for England’s men’s teams. His responsibilities will also include player identification, succession planning, and monitoring the domestic game.
Key said North’s appointment was driven by his deep understanding of county cricket, his experience across different conditions, and the long-standing relationships he has built throughout the domestic circuit. He added that North brings international credibility from his Australia playing career and believes his familiarity with player progression and high-performance environments will be an advantage for England Men’s cricket.
