England drop Crawley, Pope as Ben Stokes returns for New Zealand Tests
Ben Stokes returns to lead England against New Zealand as Zak Crawley and Ollie Pope miss out. The squad signals a clear reset after the Ashes, with three uncapped players and key recalls.
Ben Stokes is set to return as England captain for the upcoming Test series against New Zealand cricket team, but the bigger story from England’s latest squad announcement was the brutal shake-up following their disastrous Ashes campaign. England dropped long-backed batters Zak Crawley and Ollie Pope while also handing maiden Test call-ups to Emilio Gay, Sonny Baker and James Rew ahead of the first Test at Lord’s starting June 4.
The 15-man squad is the first under the involvement of new national selector Marcus North and feels like the clearest signal yet that England are finally willing to move beyond some of the untouchable names from the Bazball era after the 4-1 Ashes humiliation in Australia earlier this year.
ENGLAND SQUAD FOR 1st TEST vs NZ: Ben Stokes (captain), 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.
The opener continued receiving backing despite averaging just over 31 in Test cricket because the management believed his ceiling was higher than most players in the squad. But after another inconsistent Ashes series where he averaged 27.30, Crawley’s poor domestic form for Kent this summer appears to have finally forced England’s hand.
The 27-year-old has managed a highest score of only 44 in ten innings this season, and England have now moved in a very different direction.
Durham batter Emilio Gay has been rewarded after a stunning County Championship start where he piled up 552 runs at an average of 92, including three centuries.
Meanwhile, Pope’s omission perhaps feels even more symbolic.
Once viewed as one of England’s long-term batting pillars, Pope’s form completely collapsed during the Ashes and he eventually lost his place in the XI to Jacob Bethell for the final two Tests in Australia. England have now fully moved ahead with that transition by leaving Pope out entirely.
And honestly, the entire squad announcement feels like England finally accepting that loyalty alone cannot keep carrying players through repeated failures.
WHO ARE ENGLAND’S THREE NEW TEST CALL-UPS?
England’s rebuild has also brought fresh faces into the setup.
Alongside Gay, Somerset wicketkeeper-batter James Rew and Hampshire fast bowler Sonny Baker have both received their maiden Test call-ups after strong domestic performances.
Rew’s selection comes after a promising start to the County Championship season where he scored a century and three fifties before suffering a slight dip recently. The 20-year-old also provides wicketkeeping cover for Jamie Smith, whose place came under scrutiny during the Ashes despite his strong county form for Surrey this season.
Baker’s inclusion meanwhile reflects England’s growing need for fresh fast-bowling options.
With Jofra Archer unavailable and Mark Wood injured again, England’s pace stocks remain thin heading into the home summer. Baker has impressed for Hampshire in red-ball cricket this season, including a five-wicket haul against Somerset, after an initially difficult introduction to international cricket in the white-ball setup last year.
England have also recalled Ollie Robinson to the Test squad for the first time since early 2024.
Robinson’s return is significant because his England career had appeared to stall badly amid repeated concerns around fitness and conditioning, particularly during the India tour last year. But Sussex’s new captain has rediscovered rhythm this season and recently picked up six wickets against Leicestershire to push himself back into contention.
Leg-spinner Rehan Ahmed also returns and could now finally make his first home Test appearance after all five of his previous caps came overseas in Pakistan and India.
ENGLAND BEGIN REBUILD AFTER ASHES DISASTER
The overall feeling around this squad is very different from England’s previous selections under Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum.
For much of the Bazball era, England remained fiercely loyal to players they believed fit their aggressive philosophy, often continuing with out-of-form names because of perceived long-term upside.
But the Ashes defeat in Australia appears to have shifted something internally.
England were heavily criticised during that tour for refusing to make tough calls despite repeated batting failures, particularly around Crawley and Pope. This latest squad feels like the first real acknowledgement that a reset is now necessary.
The bowling group also reflects that transition phase.
With Archer unavailable, Wood injured and Brydon Carse still recovering from injury, England’s attack will likely revolve around Gus Atkinson, Robinson and Josh Tongue, who emerged as one of England’s few positives during the Ashes with 18 wickets across the final three Tests.
Stokes himself is also expected to contribute more heavily with the ball again after returning to competitive cricket for Durham recently.
Ben Stokes is set to return as England captain for the upcoming Test series against New Zealand cricket team, but the bigger story from England’s latest squad announcement was the brutal shake-up following their disastrous Ashes campaign. England dropped long-backed batters Zak Crawley and Ollie Pope while also handing maiden Test call-ups to Emilio Gay, Sonny Baker and James Rew ahead of the first Test at Lord’s starting June 4.
The 15-man squad is the first under the involvement of new national selector Marcus North and feels like the clearest signal yet that England are finally willing to move beyond some of the untouchable names from the Bazball era after the 4-1 Ashes humiliation in Australia earlier this year.
ENGLAND SQUAD FOR 1st TEST vs NZ: Ben Stokes (captain), 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.
The opener continued receiving backing despite averaging just over 31 in Test cricket because the management believed his ceiling was higher than most players in the squad. But after another inconsistent Ashes series where he averaged 27.30, Crawley’s poor domestic form for Kent this summer appears to have finally forced England’s hand.
The 27-year-old has managed a highest score of only 44 in ten innings this season, and England have now moved in a very different direction.
Durham batter Emilio Gay has been rewarded after a stunning County Championship start where he piled up 552 runs at an average of 92, including three centuries.
Meanwhile, Pope’s omission perhaps feels even more symbolic.
Once viewed as one of England’s long-term batting pillars, Pope’s form completely collapsed during the Ashes and he eventually lost his place in the XI to Jacob Bethell for the final two Tests in Australia. England have now fully moved ahead with that transition by leaving Pope out entirely.
And honestly, the entire squad announcement feels like England finally accepting that loyalty alone cannot keep carrying players through repeated failures.
WHO ARE ENGLAND’S THREE NEW TEST CALL-UPS?
England’s rebuild has also brought fresh faces into the setup.
Alongside Gay, Somerset wicketkeeper-batter James Rew and Hampshire fast bowler Sonny Baker have both received their maiden Test call-ups after strong domestic performances.
Rew’s selection comes after a promising start to the County Championship season where he scored a century and three fifties before suffering a slight dip recently. The 20-year-old also provides wicketkeeping cover for Jamie Smith, whose place came under scrutiny during the Ashes despite his strong county form for Surrey this season.
Baker’s inclusion meanwhile reflects England’s growing need for fresh fast-bowling options.
With Jofra Archer unavailable and Mark Wood injured again, England’s pace stocks remain thin heading into the home summer. Baker has impressed for Hampshire in red-ball cricket this season, including a five-wicket haul against Somerset, after an initially difficult introduction to international cricket in the white-ball setup last year.
England have also recalled Ollie Robinson to the Test squad for the first time since early 2024.
Robinson’s return is significant because his England career had appeared to stall badly amid repeated concerns around fitness and conditioning, particularly during the India tour last year. But Sussex’s new captain has rediscovered rhythm this season and recently picked up six wickets against Leicestershire to push himself back into contention.
Leg-spinner Rehan Ahmed also returns and could now finally make his first home Test appearance after all five of his previous caps came overseas in Pakistan and India.
ENGLAND BEGIN REBUILD AFTER ASHES DISASTER
The overall feeling around this squad is very different from England’s previous selections under Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum.
For much of the Bazball era, England remained fiercely loyal to players they believed fit their aggressive philosophy, often continuing with out-of-form names because of perceived long-term upside.
But the Ashes defeat in Australia appears to have shifted something internally.
England were heavily criticised during that tour for refusing to make tough calls despite repeated batting failures, particularly around Crawley and Pope. This latest squad feels like the first real acknowledgement that a reset is now necessary.
The bowling group also reflects that transition phase.
With Archer unavailable, Wood injured and Brydon Carse still recovering from injury, England’s attack will likely revolve around Gus Atkinson, Robinson and Josh Tongue, who emerged as one of England’s few positives during the Ashes with 18 wickets across the final three Tests.
Stokes himself is also expected to contribute more heavily with the ball again after returning to competitive cricket for Durham recently.
