England have reshaped their Test squad for the June 4 Lord's opener against New Zealand, dropping opening bat Zak Crawley after a lean county season. Fast‑bowler Ollie Robinson returns for the first time since February 2024, while three uncapped players – Durham’s Emilio Gay, Hampshire’s Sonny Baker and Somerset’s James Rew – also earn their maiden call‑ups. Both Ollie Pope and Will Jacks were omitted, underscoring the competitive pressure on the top order.

Robinson joins seasoned campaigners Rehan Ahmed and Matthew Fisher, while spin option Shoaib Bashir retains his spot despite missing the Ashes. All‑rounder Jofra Archer remains unavailable, tied up with IPL commitments, prompting the ECB to manage his red‑ball workload. Managing director Rob Key praised the mix of proven quality, county form and potential. Key believes that this depth will test New Zealand’s pace attack.

The squad will convene at Loughborough on May 24, then travel to Lord's for the first Test. Former Australia international Marcus North has been appointed England’s new national selector, tasked with harnessing the depth highlighted by the recent call‑ups. England head into the series with a clear selection hierarchy in place. The clear hierarchy should give players a defined path to earn their Test caps.