England to Name Squad for First Test Against New Zealand at Lord's

England's rebuilding effort after the Ashes loss in Australia starts with the squad announcement for the first Test against New Zealand on June 4. The group could be named as soon as Tuesday, with players reporting to a camp in Loughborough on May 25.

Selectors must pick an opening pair, spinner and pace bowlers to face the Black Caps at Lord's. Zak Crawley faces scrutiny after 104 Test innings at an average of 30.52, the lowest for any opener with that many chances. His early season form for Kent has been poor, with a top score of 44 in five matches and a loose shot against Gloucestershire.

Ben Duckett also struggled in the Ashes but enters with more credit. England rarely switches both openers. Dom Sibley and Haseeb Hameed have not pressed strong cases for recall.

New options include Somerset's James Rew, with 12 first-class hundreds at age 22. England asked Somerset if Rew could open, and he tried it against Glamorgan, scoring 4 and 0. Rew may serve as reserve batter instead. Durham's Ben McKinney and Emilio Gay, both Lions tourists in Australia, also compete. Gay, 26, has three Championship centuries this season. McKinney, 21, impressed with a hundred against Australia A last year.

The middle order looks set with Jacob Bethell, Joe Root, Harry Brook and captain Ben Stokes. Spin bowling exposed weaknesses in the Ashes. England gave Shoaib Bashir on-the-job training before turning to Will Jacks for four Tests.

Bashir, now at Derbyshire, could be overlooked despite regular county play. Jack Leach remains the steadiest option. Glamorgan's Mason Crane, with one cap eight years ago, bowls well. Others in the mix include Liam Patterson-White, Jack Carson and Calvin Harrison.

Rehan Ahmed, 18 when first picked in 2022, brings X-factor as a leg-spinner and lower-order batter with six first-class hundreds. He plays for Delhi Capitals in the Indian Premier League but could still make the squad.

Pace bowling sees the most change. This home summer marks the first since 2006 without James Anderson, Stuart Broad or Chris Woakes. Mark Wood may not return to Tests. Few new pacemen take the new ball naturally.

Jofra Archer's IPL stint delays his comeback, likely to the second Test. Brydon Carse has a broken wrist. Josh Tongue and Gus Atkinson seem certain, though Tongue concussed Atkinson in a recent match.

Candidates for remaining spots include Matthew Potts, Matthew Fisher, Ollie Robinson, Sam Cook, Olly Stone and Sonny Baker. Lancashire's Mitchell Stanley, with just five first-class games, draws attention.

Rob Key likely faces media after the announcement. England kept a midnight curfew from the Sri Lanka white-ball tour and T20 World Cup, and it may continue. Key said in March no full-time backroom hires, sticking to ad hoc staff. Troy Cooley returns as pace bowling lead, with Tim Southee possible and questions over fielding support.