England axe Zak Crawley and call up uncapped trio for New Zealand series ...Middle East

England have dropped Zak Crawley for next month’s first Test against New Zealand at Lord’s following the embarrassing Ashes winter in Australia.

The misfiring Kent opener, who has had a torrid start to the County Championship season, is one of four players who have paid the price for the 4-1 defeat Down Under, with fellow batter Ollie Pope, spinning all-rounder Will Jacks and seamer Matthew Potts also overlooked.

They are among seven players from the Ashes campaign missing for the opening Test against the Black Caps that starts on 4 June, with Brydon Carse and Mark Wood injured and fast bowler Jofra Archer, currently playing in the Indian Premier League, being rested in preparation for the second Test that starts at The Oval on 17 June.

There are maiden Test call-ups for Emilio Gay, the Durham opener who looks set to replace Crawley at the top of the order, and Hampshire fast bowler Sonny Baker, while Somerset’s James Rew is also included as batting cover.

But perhaps the biggest call made by England’s hierarchy are the recalls for seamer Ollie Robinson, whose last Test appearance came more than two years ago, and young leg-spinner Rehan Ahmed.

Shoaib Bashir, who went unused throughout the Ashes, is also included, although the off-spinner is thought to be behind Ahmed in the running to play at Lord’s.

Robinson’s inclusion caps a remarkable return to the international fold after a period when his personal issues and injury problems seemingly had ended his England career.

The 32-year-old, whose last Test came against India at Ranchi in February 2024, told The i Paper in March: “I’ve not had contact [with England] for 18 months to two years now.”

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But having spoken to head coach Brendon McCullum and managing director of men’s cricket Rob Key, Robinson has started the season well for Sussex, captaining the team and taking 17 wickets at 26 across five Championship games.

Baker’s call-up is not surprising but the timing is given he has only played 11 first-class matches. The 23-year-old has taken 14 wickets at 26 this season and last week told The i Paper: “I’m not going to shy away from the fact that a Test debut is an absolute dream and I think Test cricket is the absolute pinnacle.”

With Gus Atkinson having suffered a concussion last week, Baker could be set for that debut at Lord’s, although Atkinson and Matthew Fisher will rival him for a place in a seam attack that looks almost certain to include Robinson and Josh Tongue.

Gay, meanwhile, is a pick that backs up the claim from England’s hierarchy that they would reward county performances this summer. The left-hander is averaging 92 in the Championship this season for Durham and has already scored three centuries. He has seen off competition from county team-mate Ben McKinney and Glamorgan’s Asa Tribe.

Despite the lack of changes at the top following the calamitous Ashes tour, with McCullum and Key both lucky to keep their jobs, this squad does at least show some appetite for freshening things up, even if Crawley, who averaged 27 in Australia, may feel hard done by that he has ultimately ended up being the scapegoat.

England’s squad for the first Test against New Zealand:

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