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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Sport
Malik Ouzia

Rehan Ahmed left out as England recall trio for Test tour of New Zealand

Matthew Potts, Olly Stone and Dan Lawrence have been recalled to England’s Test squad for the tour of New Zealand, but teenage spinner Rehan Ahmed has been left out.

England travel to New Zealand for a two-Test series in February, with leadership duo Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum looking to build on a sensational 2022 in the latter’s homeland.

Ahmed became the youngest man to take five-for on Test debut in a stunning bow in the Third Test victory over Pakistan in earlier this month but conditions in New Zealand tend not to favour spinners.

Jack Leach has been selected as the sole specialist in a 15-man squad, with Ahmed instead set to play in the UAE T20 League in January, with a view to possible involvement in England’s white-ball tour of Bangladesh in March.

England also confirmed that Joe Root will take up a short stint in the UAE’s franchise competition with the Dubai Capitals before joining the New Zealand tour, with the 31-year-old looking to explore franchise opportunities having resigned the Test captaincy last year and England keen for him play limited-overs cricket ahead of the 50-over World Cup in India later in 2023.

Potts, meanwhile, excelled after making his debut last summer, taking 20 wickets in his first five Tests, but he made way for the fit-again Ollie Robinson and was left out of the Pakistan tour.

The Durham quick returns, as does Stuart Broad, who did not travel to Pakistan so he could be at the birth of his first child. Fast-bowler Stone is back having not played for England since June 2021 amid a wealth of injury problems.

Stone’s pace could be crucial, given Mark Wood has been rested from the tour after a busy winter schedule that included the T20 World Cup triumph in Australia and then the Test series in Pakistan. Wood had missed the entire home summer after undergoing elbow surgery and, given his injury record, England are keen to allow him to recover ahead of the Ashes next summer.

Lawrence’s recall comes as a slight surprise, the Essex batter having last featured on the tour to the West Indies in March, prior to Stokes and McCullum taking charge.

Along with Stone, Harry Brook and Ben Duckett were yesterday included in England’s ODI squad for the tour of South Africa that starts in late January and will fly directly to New Zealand to join the Test side, as will Will Jacks, who is not in the ODI squad but will be in South Africa for the SA20 franchise tournament.

England men’s Test squad for tour of New Zealand

  • Ben Stokes (Durham)
  • James Anderson (Lancashire)
  • Stuart Broad (Nottinghamshire)
  • Harry Brook (Yorkshire)
  • Zak Crawley (Kent)
  • Ben Duckett (Nottinghamshire)
  • Ben Foakes (Surrey)
  • Will Jacks (Surrey)
  • Dan Lawrence (Essex)
  • Jack Leach (Somerset)
  • Ollie Pope (Surrey)
  • Matthew Potts (Durham)
  • Ollie Robinson (Sussex)
  • Joe Root (Yorkshire)
  • Olly Stone (Nottinghamshire)
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