Ollie Robinson recalled, Zak Crawley dropped as England unveil new-look squad for New Zealand Test

The squad overhaul comes in the wake of England's disastrous 4-1 Ashes defeat in Australia, with Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum opting for a fresh look ahead of the three-match home series beginning on 4 June.

Crawley is the headline casualty after a poor Ashes campaign in which he scored just 273 runs in 10 innings, while his indifferent County Championship form for Kent has further dented his case. It is the first time the opener has been omitted from a Test squad since Stokes and McCullum took charge in 2022.

His replacement is Durham batter Emilio Gay, who has forced his way into contention with a prolific county season. The 26-year-old specialist opener has amassed more than 500 runs at an average above 90, including three centuries, and is expected to slot straight into the XI at Lord's.

Somerset wicketkeeper-batter James Rew and Hampshire fast bowler Sonny Baker are also in line for potential debuts, with England increasingly looking towards younger talent as they rebuild their red-ball side.

The most eye-catching return is that of Robinson, who has not played Test cricket since February 2024 after falling out of favour amid concerns over fitness and conditioning. The Sussex seamer had once been viewed as England's long-term successor to James Anderson and Stuart Broad but endured a frustrating period marked by injuries and inconsistency.

Despite his exile, Robinson still boasts an outstanding Test record, with 76 wickets at an average of 22.92 from just 20 matches. With Anderson, Broad and Chris Woakes all retired from the Test arena, England appear ready to give the 32-year-old another opportunity to spearhead the pace attack.

Leg-spinner Rehan Ahmed also returns after being overlooked throughout the Ashes, while Shoaib Bashir retains his place despite not featuring during the Australia series. The pair are expected to compete for the specialist spinner's role, with Ahmed pushing to make his first home Test appearance.

Matthew Fisher is another recalled name, but there is no place for Ollie Pope or Will Jacks following underwhelming Ashes tours. Jofra Archer, meanwhile, remains unavailable as England continue to carefully manage his return to red-ball cricket while he fulfils IPL commitments.

England also confirmed the appointment of former Australia batter Marcus North as the new national selector. The current Durham director of cricket succeeds Luke Wright and becomes the first overseas appointment to lead England's selection panel.

England squad for first Test against New Zealand: Ben Stokes, 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.

READ MORE: The business of boundaries - Cricket legend laments IPL runfest