England’s seam attack has been reinforced by the recalls of Stuart Broad, Matthew Potts, and Olly Stone for the two-match Test series against New Zealand in February. Mark Wood and Rehan Ahmed have been rested following their impressive debuts in Pakistan.
Broad returns to the squad after taking parental leave during the Pakistan series, during which England won a Test for the first time since 2007 without him and Jimmy Anderson. Potts will try to build on a strong rookie summer in which he took 20 wickets in five matches.
Stone is one of a squadron of seamers who have struggled with injuries, with a series of stress fractures and a fractured finger restricting his playing time since June 2021, when he earned his last of three Test caps. In Wood’s absence, though, his presence in the team affords England the option of employing an express speed.
Dan Lawrence, who has not played for the Test squad since the tour of the West Indies in March, returns to the squad. Keaton Jennings and Jamie Overton, who did not play in the 3-0 series victory, have been removed from the squad that traveled to Pakistan.
Joe Root has decided to participate in the inaugural UAE T20 league before joining the team in New Zealand, whilst Jonny Bairstow remains sidelined due to injury.
