Emilio Gay set to make England debut in first Test against New Zealand

The 26-year-old is set to open the batting alongside Ben Duckett while seamer Ollie Robinson is set to return for his first Test appearance in two years.

Top-order batter James Rew, leg-spinner Rehan Ahmed and fast bowler Matt Fisher are the players missing out from the original 15-man squad that selected initially.

Hampshire paceman Sonny Baker could also potentially make his debut in Test cricket, with the final decision to be taken before the toss and a final look at pitch conditions and the weather.

Shoaib Bashir, who had been England's first-choice spinner for 18 months until he was overlooked for this winter's Ashes, is expected to slot back into the XI.

England head coach Brendon McCullum said: "We're very comfortable with the group that we've got. We're confident in what we're going to pick.

"That doesn't guarantee us anything, but it gives us what we think will allow us the best opportunity against New Zealand at Lord's. We want to stick to what we think is going to be required in these conditions against this opposition."

England squad: Ben Stokes (captain), Gus Atkinson, Sonny Baker, Shoaib Bashir, Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook, Ben Duckett, Emilio Gay, Ollie Robinson, Joe Root, Jamie Smith (wk), Josh Tongue

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