England have announced a slimmed-down squad of 12 for their first match of the summer, against New Zealand at Lord\u2019s starting on Thursday, postponing until the last minute a decision over whether to reward the \u201cfull noise\u201d approach of Hampshire\u2019s Sonny Baker with a Test debut.<\/p>\n
The approach mirrors that at the first Ashes Test last November, when England announced a 12-man squad that featured Mark Wood and Shoaib Bashir before opting in the end for Wood\u2019s extra pace. On this occasion Bashir will play, having been preferred to Rehan Ahmed as the team\u2019s frontline spinner, while Jacob Bethell is fit after a finger injury and also able to bowl if required.<\/p>\n
Their final decision will be made with the benefit of the latest weather forecast, with Baker likely to be preferred \u2013 probably in place of Gus Atkinson \u2013 only if the forecast for the weekend clears.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve got a very good idea of the XI we want,\u201d the England head coach, Brendon McCullum, said. \u201cBut we want to see how the weather plays out, and we\u2019ll work out whether we want the extra airspeed if all of a sudden it becomes 35C and flattens out. Or we stick to what\u2019s tried and tested at Lord\u2019s and remain with more of the type of bowlers that\u2019ll extract some movement with some overhead conditions. We\u2019ll also play a spinner.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re confident in what we\u2019re going to pick, and we think it gives us the best opportunity against New Zealand at Lord\u2019s. We want to stick to what we think is going to be required in these conditions against this opposition.\u201d<\/p>\n
Quick GuideEngland squad for first Test against New ZealandShow<\/p>\n
Ben Stokes (capt), Gus Atkinson, Sonny Baker, Shoaib Bashir, Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook, Ben Duckett, Emilio Gay, Ollie Robinson, Joe Root, Jamie Smith (wkt), Josh Tongue.<\/p>\n
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