New England captain Ben Stokes mentioned he needed everybody within the facet to “feel free” underneath his management as James Anderson and Stuart Broad had been recalled for the primary Test in opposition to New Zealand at Lord’s beginning Thursday. Stokes has taken over as skipper from Joe Root, with England on a woeful run of 1 win in 17 Tests. But the all-rounder informed reporters at Lord’s on Wednesday: “There’s been a lot of talk about a ‘reset’, which is a word I don’t like. “I simply see it as a very clean canvas. I simply need everybody to be happy underneath my captaincy.
“This is our time and we are going to dictate how things go forward. Everyone is starting fresh.”
Anderson, 39 and Broad, 35, England’s two most profitable bowlers of all time, with a mixed 1,177 wickets between them, had been each controversially omitted of the squad for a 1-0 sequence loss within the West Indies earlier this 12 months.
But they return for the primary match underneath England’s new management duo of Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum, the previous New Zealand captain, in an XI named on Wednesday — a day forward of schedule.
England have additionally given a debut to quick bowler Matthew Potts, a county colleague of Stokes at Durham.
Potts will get his probability forward of fellow squad member Craig Overton, after an damage disaster disadvantaged England of a number of quick bowlers together with Mark Wood, Chris Woakes, Ollie Robinson and Jofra Archer.
The 23-year-old has been chosen on the again of a advantageous begin to the county season, having taken 35 wickets for Durham in his opening six County Championship matches.
“He’s been outstanding in the games I’ve played,” mentioned Stokes of Potts.
“It’s not been all plain sailing for bowlers and he’s created things out of nowhere.
“The factor that made my thoughts up about Pottsy was when he bowled us to victory in opposition to Glamorgan.
“He turned up with a bit of a stiff side, with Test selection coming he could have just sat back and said ‘I’m going to look after myself’ but he didn’t. He ran in and won the game for us.
“That’s the perspective that opens your eyes. This child is an athlete and every part I anticipate this group to be about going ahead.”
England had previously removed some of the doubt surrounding their side for this opening match of a three-Test series by indicating Jonny Bairstow would bat at number five, with Ollie Pope pencilled in at first-wicket down.
That means the in-form Harry Brook, a Yorkshire colleague of Bairstow, must wait for his Test debut.
Brook has scored 840 runs at a colossal average of 140 so far this campaign but has been unable to find a place in a familiar-looking top six.
England are currently bottom of the World Test Championship table with New Zealand, who’ve yet to name their team, the reigning World Test champions after defeating India in last year’s inaugural final at Southampton.
England team to play New Zealand in the first Test at Lord’s:
Promoted
Zak Crawley, Alex Lees, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Jonny Bairstow, Ben Stokes (capt), Ben Foakes (wkt), Matthew Potts, Jack Leach, Stuart Broad, James Anderson
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