England Name Shoaib Bashir and Uncapped Sonny Baker in 12-Man Squad for First Test Against New Zealand

England have named Shoaib Bashir in their 12-man squad for the first Test against New Zealand at Lord's, which begins on Thursday. The 22-year-old off-spinner will take his place in the XI after being overlooked for the entire Ashes series England lost 4-1. Bashir last played for England in the third Test against India at Lord's in July 2025, when he took the final wicket despite a broken finger.

He made his Test debut as a 20-year-old on the 2024 tour of India after playing only six first-class matches for Somerset and has taken 68 wickets in 19 Tests. England head coach Brendon McCullum said the decision to leave Bashir out of the Ashes was based on conditions rather than his form. "We firmly believe in Bash as an international cricketer," McCullum told BBC Sport.

Bashir left Somerset at the end of the 2025 season to join Derbyshire, where he has taken 15 wickets in six County Championship matches at the start of the 2026 summer. McCullum said the move has given the spinner valuable game time. "What we've seen since he made the shift in county and been able to get game time under his belt - we know he's an immensely talented cricketer, and he just needs more and more opportunity," McCullum said.

Uncapped seamer Sonny Baker is also in the 12-man squad and could compete with Gus Atkinson for a place in the pace attack. England are without Jofra Archer due to Indian Premier League commitments and Brydon Carse is recovering from a broken wrist.

Ollie Robinson has been recalled for the first time in more than two years and is expected to open the bowling on a Lord's pitch that showed a green tinge on Tuesday.

"There is a little bit of jeopardy around the conditions and the forecast over the next 48 hours," McCullum said. " England will hand a Test debut to opener Emilio Gay in place of Zak Crawley, who was dropped after a poor Ashes series. Jacob Bethell has been passed fit after a finger injury and will bat at number three in a home Test for the first time.

The weather forecast is for rain for much of the match. Captain Ben Stokes will drop to number seven in the batting order, with wicketkeeper Jamie Smith moving up to number six. Stokes, who turns 35 on the opening day, has played 131 of his 216 Test innings at number six and averaged 18 during the Ashes.

Smith averages 44 at number six in his short Test career. "We think it's quite a nice balance of trying to get Jamie Smith more time with the out and out batters, then if Stokesy finds himself operating with the tail he's got so much experience," McCullum said. "It's a small tactical shift.

The England 12-man squad is: Ben Duckett, Emilio Gay, Jacob Bethell, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Jamie Smith, Ben Stokes (captain), Gus Atkinson, Josh Tongue, Ollie Robinson, Sonny Baker, Shoaib Bashir.