England have announced their squad for the first home Test of the summer against New Zealand.
The squad is England first Test group named since their 4-1 loss to Australia in the winter Ashes series. Here are the main takeaway from the announcement.
England squad for first Test vs New Zealand: 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
Robinson recall ends two-year absence
Ollie Robinson's recall was the most eye-catching part of the squad announcement. Now 32, he was dropped two years ago after persistent injury issues and reports of clashes with England management. However, having stepped into a captaincy role at Sussex this year, he started the season strongly with 17 wickets from five games and a counterattacking tail-end century. He stated before the season that he hadn't heard from anyone in the England set-up for 18 months, but revealed after Sussex's Championship match at The Oval that Rob Key had been in touch.
There's a sense that, after the struggles England's pace attack endured during the Ashes, it was no longer tenable to ignore Robinson. It was clear the attack lacked experience, leadership and hostility, and Robinson – with 82 Test wickets at 22.92 – provides all of those attributes.
Gay call-up signals end of the road for Crawley-Duckett partnership
The writing has been on the wall for Zak Crawley for several weeks, after a low-key start to the county season. His numbers – an average of 19.5 with no fifties in 10 innings – as well as the manner of his dismissals have made his selection unsustainable. Dropping him is a significant moment in the McCullum-Key tenure. The Crawley-Duckett opening partnership has been a pillar of their philosophy, and has been at the centre of some of their biggest successes over the last three years.
Nevertheless, the man called-up to replace him fits all of their core requirements. While Gay has previously been involved in Lions squads, including over the winter in Australia, his superb run of form for Durham in the last month underpins his selection. He's scored centuries at a decent lick, and while those runs have come at No.3 he has significant experience as an opener. He's beaten off competition from James Rew – who moved up to the top order for Somerset last week – Asa Tribe, and Ben McKinney to take the spot.
Dual selection keeps spin options open
Having consigned Bashir to carrying the drinks for the Ashes, England have kept the door open to him for that start of the summer. However, whether he will make it back into the XI is unclear, given they've also picked Rehan Ahmed in a home Test squad for the first time. Selecting both in the squad means England have the option to balance their side with the all-rounder in Bashir, or plump for a specialist spinner. It also means Will Jacks' spell as the incumbent is over.
Premier speedster absences open door for Baker
Neither Mark Wood nor Jofra Archer was available for selection for the first Test of the summer. While Wood's future in the longest format remains uncertain, Archer's IPL commitments mean he won't be ready for red-ball cricket in time to face New Zealand. Archer's absence will be frustrating for England after they lost the battle to keep him out of the IPL last summer, when he was also unavailable for the start of the India series. Nevertheless, it provides an opportunity for Sonny Baker, who has impressed for Hampshire in the first part of the season.
Fisher displaces Potts in post-Ashes pace pecking order
Matt Fisher was technically a member of England's Ashes pace attack, although he didn't play and was only called up as an injury replacement. He's likely also in as injury cover behind their premier attack this time, with Gus Atkinson's involvement under a question mark after he sustained a concussion while facing Josh Tongue in the last round of Championship matches. Matt Potts is the most significant casualty of the Ashes group, while Brydon Carse was not available for selection as he continues to recover from injury.
Smith retains gloves despite county top-orer move
After brief rumours that he could be an option to replace Crawley at the top of the order, Jamie Smith will retain his spot as keeper. He's fended off competition from James Rew, who makes the squad as a spare batter and keeping cover for Smith.
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