Kent opener Zak Crawley has been left out of the England squad for the three-match Test series against New Zealand.
It’s the first time Crawley has been omitted from an England Test squad since captain Ben Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum took charge in 2022.
The former Tonbridge School pupil pays the price for his disappointing tour of Australia during England’s dismal Ashes campaign Down Under in the winter.
Kent academy product Crawley, 28, has also struggled during the start of the County Championship Division 2 season, scoring 195 at 19.50 and has a top score of just 44. His position in the England team is likely to go to the uncapped Emilio Gay.
Ironically, Crawley is expected to come up against 26-year-old Gay – and England skipper Stokes – when Kent welcome Durham to Beckenham in County Championship Division 2 from this Friday.
Margate-born Sussex seamer Ollie Robinson, 32, returns after being dropped two years ago.
Robinson has a hugely impressive Test record, with 76 wickets at an average below 23 from his 20 matches. He was long seen as the new-ball heir to Jimmy Anderson and Stuart Broad.
But he fell out of favour and was dropped following the tour of India more than two years ago. England grew frustrated with, among other issues, problems around his fitness.
The uncapped Sonny Baker, of Hampshire, is another in their 15-man squad.
England will start the series against New Zealand at Lord’s from Thursday, June 4, and begin the second game at The Kia Oval 13 days later.
England – who have also confirmed Australian Marcus North as the new national selector – will conclude the series from Thursday, June 25, at Trent Bridge.
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.
