England has brought back seamer Ollie Robinson after a two-year absence and introduced uncapped players Emilio Gay, James Rew, and Sonny Baker to the squad for the upcoming first Test against New Zealand at Lord’s on June 4. Robinson, aged 32, with 76 wickets from 20 Tests, returns as England looks for a new attack leader post the retirements of Stuart Broad, James Anderson, and Chris Woakes. He was dropped in 2024 due to fitness issues.
Zak Crawley has been omitted after a disappointing Ashes tour, paving the way for Durham’s Gay to partner with Ben Duckett. Rew, with 12 first-class hundreds, is likely to be the backup middle-order batsman. Baker, 23, joins the pace group alongside Robinson, Josh Tongue, Gus Atkinson, and Matthew Fisher after a challenging start to his international career. Shoaib Bashir, previously overlooked during the Ashes, is included and will vie for the spinner’s role with leg-spinner Rehan Ahmed.
England has appointed Australian Marcus North as their new national selector, succeeding Luke Wright. The team will gather at Loughborough on May 22 before the Lord’s Test. Rehan Ahmed and Jacob Bethell, currently participating in IPL 2026, will rejoin England post their commitments with Delhi Capitals and Royal Challengers Bangalore.
“We’ve chosen a squad with a mix of proven international talent, strong county performers, and promising players with Test potential. Emilio, James, and Sonny have earned their chances through consistent displays and handling pressure well,” said Rob Key, England Men’s Managing Director. Jofra Archer will miss the first Test due to IPL commitments, focusing on red-ball cricket after an extended period on the road.
