England Announces Squad for First Test Against New Zealand
England's Test Squad Unveiled
The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has revealed a 15-member squad for the initial Test of the upcoming three-match series against New Zealand, scheduled to commence on June 4 at Lord's. Notably, opening batsman Zak Crawley and former vice-captain Ollie Pope have been omitted from this lineup. Star bowler Jofra Archer, currently engaged with the Rajasthan Royals in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL), is also unavailable for selection.
In a statement issued by the ECB, three uncapped players have been included in the squad for the first Test: Somerset's wicketkeeper-batter James Rew, Hampshire's fast bowler Sonny Baker, and Durham's top-order batter Emilio Gay. Additionally, Sussex's Ollie Robinson, Surrey's Matthew Fisher, and Leicestershire's spinner Rehan Ahmed have made their return to the Test side.
Rob Key, the Managing Director of England Men’s cricket, expressed confidence in the squad's composition, stating, "We’ve selected a squad that we believe has a really exciting blend of proven international quality, strong county form, and players with huge potential to develop at Test level. Emilio, James, and Sonny have all earned their opportunities through consistent performances and have impressed us not only with their talent but with the way they’ve handled high-pressure situations. It’s also great to welcome back players like Rehan, Matt, and Ollie, who all bring different qualities and experience to the group. Competition for places remains incredibly strong, and that’s exactly where we want to be as a Test team."
Jofra Archer's Absence
Key confirmed that Archer, who participated in the first three Tests of the 2025–26 Ashes series and took nine wickets, will not be part of the opening Test. The official update also mentioned that two players currently involved in IPL 2026, Rehan Ahmed and Jacob Bethell, will return to England after fulfilling their commitments with Delhi Capitals and Royal Challengers Bengaluru. The team is set to gather for a training camp at Loughborough starting May 24. Key added, "Jofra Archer is unavailable for the first Test. He continues to play in the IPL, and it is about building him up for red-ball cricket after a long six months on the road."
England’s Squad for 1st Test vs NZ: Ben Stokes (C), Jamie Smith (WK), Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook, Joe Root, Ben Duckett, Rehan Ahmed, Gus Atkinson, Sonny Baker, Shoaib Bashir, Matthew Fisher, Emilio Gay, James Rew, Ollie Robinson, Josh Tongue