England have named a 15-member squad for the two-match Test series against New Zealand. The multi-format players have been rested after completing quarantine, whereas wicket-keeper James Bracey and pacer Ollie Robinson have been received call-ups.
Jos Buttler, Chris Woakes, Sam Curran, Moeen Ali and Jonny Bairstow have been left out as they recently completed their mandatory quarantine after arriving from India as the 2021 edition of the IPL was suspended.
Ben Stokes and Jofra Archer are recovering from injuries. Wicket-keeper batsman James Bracey and seam bowler Ollie Robinson are the only uncapped players in the side.
Bracey and Robinson have been around the Test side as backups or reserves in the recent past when England toured Sri Lanka and India in the winter. Both players have been in top form in the ongoing 2021 season of the County Championship as well.
Robinson, who plays for Sussex, has been magnificent with both bat and ball. He is third on the list of most wicket – 29 wickets at an average of 14.72. With the bat, he has chipped in with 229 runs at an average of 38.16. On the other hand, Bracey has scored 478 runs at an average of 53.11 for Gloucestershire.
“James Bracey and Ollie Robinson deserve their call ups to the Test squad. They have been consistent performers in the County Championship this season and over the past 18 months, have excelled for the Lions on the field and in the various camps they have been involved in,”
England head coach Chris Silverwood was quoted saying.
Craig Overton who has played four Test matches, but last featured in the 2019 Ashes has been recalled as well. He is currently the second-highest wicket-taker in the ongoing County Championship with 32 wickets which have come at an average of 13.96.
The rest of the squad wears an expected look, with Joe Root at helm and James Anderson and Stuart Broad leading the pace attack. Mark Wood and Olly Stone are the other fast bowlers in the squad.
