England name 15-man squad for New Zealand Test series

England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) have announced a 15-man squad on Tuesday for the two-match Test series against New Zealand. There are some big names like Jonathan Bairstow, Jos Buttler and Chris Woakes are rested from the squad. The series starts at Lord’s on June 2 before Edgbaston in Birmingham will play host to the second Test from June 10. Gloucestershire wicketkeeper-batsman James Bracey and Sussex seamer Ollie Robinson have received their maiden call-ups to the Test squad.

Both have been in good form during the early stages of the ongoing County Championship. Bracey has till now scored 478 Championship runs in this campaign at an average of 53, whereas Robinson has taken 29 wickets at an average of 14. Having toured as reserves during England’s winter Test programmes in Sri Lanka and India, both might be familiar with the England set-up.

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Bracey and Robinson were also part of the extended squads during last summer’s behind-closed-doors Test series against West Indies and Pakistan, respectively. Meanwhile, Somerset all-rounder Craig Overton has been recalled. He last played for England in a Test match in September 2019 against Australia. This will be an opportunity for him to add to his four Test caps.

Some of their big name players like Jonathan Bairstow, Jos Buttler, Sam Curran, Moeen Ali and Chris Woakes are rested after completing a quarantine period following the suspension of the Indian Premier League recently. All-rounder Ben Stokes (fractured finger) and pacer Jofra Archer (right elbow) were not considered for selection.

England men’s head coach, Chris Silverwood, said, “The summer of Test cricket will be fascinating. Playing the top two teams in the world, in New Zealand and India, is perfect preparation for us as we continue to improve and progress towards an Ashes series in Australia at the back end of the year.”

“With several players not available through injury or being rested for the New Zealand series, it is an opportunity for us to reward those who have been on the fringes of England squads over the past 12 months.”

He also asserted that James Bracey and Ollie Robinson have earned their call-ups. “James Bracey and Ollie Robinson deserve their call-ups to the Test squad. They have been consistent performers in the County Championship this season and over the past 18 months, have excelled for the Lions on the field and in the various camps they have been involved in,” Silverwood added.

England’s squad for NZ Test series:

Joe Root (Captain) (Yorkshire), James Anderson (Lancashire), James Bracey (Gloucestershire), Stuart Broad (Nottinghamshire), Rory Burns (Surrey), Zak Crawley (Kent), Ben Foakes (wk) (Surrey), Dan Lawrence (Essex), Jack Leach (Somerset), Craig Overton (Somerset), Ollie Pope (Surrey), Ollie Robinson (Sussex), Dom Sibley (Warwickshire), Olly Stone (Warwickshire) and Mark Wood (Durham).