England have dropped struggling opening batsman Zak Crawley from their squad for next month’s first test against New Zealand at Lord’s as they look to rebuild following a woeful 4-1 Ashes loss.
Durham’s Emilio Gay, one of three uncapped players in a 15-man squad including Hampshire fast bowler Sonny Bakerand Somerset wicketkeeper-batsman James Rew, is set to replace Crawley as a specialist opener.
Meanwhile, paceman Ollie Robinson, following a two-year exile from England duty, is back and leg-spinner Rehan Ahmed has also been recalled.
Crawley managed a mere 273 runs in 10 innings at 27.30 during England’s dire 2025/26 tour of Australia and the 28-year-old has found runs hard to come by for Kent this season.
This is the first time since captain Ben Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum took charge of the test team in 2022 that Crawley has been left out of a squad when available.
Robinson, however, has not played for England since February 2024, with doubts raised over the Sussex seamer’s fitness and attitude.
But with England in dire need of a new-ball spearhead following the various retirements of James Anderson, Stuart Broad and Chris Woakes, he now has a chance to revive his test career.
The in-form Gay, 26, is a county colleague of Stokes at Durham – whose departing director of cricket Marcus North, the former Australia batsman, was named as England’s new national selector yesterday.
Gay, batting at No 3 but with long experience as an opener behind him, has scored 522 runs, including three centuries, at a huge average of 92 for his county this season.
Rising star Rew, 22, looks set to be the reserve batsman and a back-up wicketkeeper to Jamie Smith.
Ahmed, who became England’s youngest men’s test cricketer aged 18 in Pakistan in 2022, is one of two specialist slow bowlers in a 15-man squad alongside Shoaib Bashir, unused during the Ashes.
Occasional off-spinner Will Jacks, who featured in Australia, has been dropped along with Ollie Pope, who lost his place during the Ashes following a run of low scores.
England managing director Rob Key said the squad was an “exciting blend” of proven international performers and strong county form.
“Emilio, James and Sonny have all earned their opportunities through consistent performances and have impressed us not only with their talent, but with the way they’ve gone about their cricket in high-pressure situations,” added former England batsman Key.
“It’s also great to welcome back players like Rehan, Matt and Ollie, who all bring different qualities and experience to the group.”
Ben Stokes (c), Rehan Ahmed, Gus Atkinson, Sonny Baker, Shoaib Bashir, Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook, Ben Duckett, Matthew Fisher, Emilio Gay, James Rew (wkt), Ollie Robinson, Joe Root, Jamie Smith (wkt), Josh Tongue
