DOHA: Veteran pace duo of James Anderson and Stuart Broad will return to the squad for the first time since the Australia Test series earlier this winter as England take on New Zealand in the first Test at the Lord’s tomorrow.
The three-match Test series is a part of the ICC World Test Championship and England will be looking to climb the rankings after a disappointing start to the second edition of the Championship.
At the end of the two-year cycle, the top two teams will compete in the ICC World Test Championship Final due to be staged in 2023.
The appointment of New Zealand’s swashbuckling batsman and former captain Brendon McCullum as England Test team’s coach last month took everyone by surprise.
It remains to be seen how McCullum revives the English Test side that have been left battered and bruised with just one win in 17 matches.
In his previous stints as a coach, McCullum worked as Head Coach of Indian Premier League side Kolkata and also coached Trinbago Knight Riders to the 2020 Caribbean Premier League title.
McCullum, who will be the first coach to turn up at Lord’s with rolled-up jeans revealing bare ankles and no socks, had an exemplary playing career that saw him earn 101 Test caps and was Test captain of the Black Caps from 2012 to his international retirement in 2016.
.”This is the start of a new era for our Test team under the stewardship of Ben (Stokes) and Brendon (McCullum). With a blend of youth and experience, we have selected an exciting squad that can compete with New Zealand in next month’s Test series.
“We have rewarded players in Harry Brook and Matty Potts who have had outstanding starts to the County season, and they deserve the opportunity to stake a claim at this level,” said Rob Key, England Men’s Cricket’s Managing Director.
