Bashir picked and Baker pushing for England Test debut at Lord's

Shoaib Bashir preferred to Rehan Ahmed as head coach Brendon McCullum confirms England will play a spinner; Sonny Baker competing to make Test debut at Lord's; watch the first Test against New Zealand, live on Sky Sports Cricket from 10am on Thursday (first ball 11am)

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>England are considering handing Sonny Baker a debut Test cap at Lord's after the 23-year-old fast bowler was included in the 12-man squad named for the first Test against New Zealand, starting on Thursday.

>England head coach Brendon McCullum faced the media two days out from the series opener, and hinted at Baker's possible inclusion as they "work out whether we want the extra air speed... or we stick to what is tried and tested at Lord's and the type of bowlers that will extract some movement with some overhead conditions".

>Ben Stokes (captain), Gus Atkinson, Sonny Baker, Shoaib Bashir, Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook, Ben Duckett, Emilio Gay, Ollie Robinson, Joe Root, Jamie Smith (wicketkeeper), Josh Tongue.

>Baker is competing with Josh Tongue, Gus Atkinson and the returning Ollie Robinson - in line for his first Test in over two years - for the seamers' spots, alongside all-rounder and captain Ben Stokes.

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>McCullum also confirmed England would play a spinner, meaning Shoaib Bashir's inclusion in the 12 has seen him win that personal battle with leg-spin option and the extra batting depth of Rehan Ahmed.

>From England's initial squad of 15 names for the first Test of the three-match series against the Black Caps, Somerset batter James Rew and Surrey seamer Matthew Fisher also miss out as well as Rehan.

>Bashir had been England's No 1 spinner in Tests since 2024 but missed the second half of last year's home series against India after sustaining a fractured finger, and was then overlooked throughout the 4-1 Ashes drubbing in Australia over the winter.

>"Bash has the ability to play more of a holding role in the first couple of days at Lord's, but then as the game deepens and it starts to spin he can go more into an attacking role," McCullum said of the 22-year-old.

>McCullum added on Baker's strengths ahead of a possible Test debut: "He's exciting. His air speed. He's quick.

>"I think he's going to be a cricketer that the country will really get behind when he does play, because he charges in and leaves everything out there.

>"Some guys have a bit more of a rhythmical component to their style; Sonny is full noise!

>"He swings the ball both ways, bowls a slightly fuller length and he's obviously got the ability to touch 90mph."

>England are already blooding one debutant at Lord's in Durham's Emilio Gay, who will open the batting after scoring 552 runs at an average of 78.85 in his six County Championship appearances this season.

>"That's why he's here, through sheer weight of runs at county level he's been able to force his way into the side," McCullum said.

>"There's a lot going on for him at the moment. The step up into international cricket, there's a lot more demands - not just cricket-wise - as we're all aware. A lot more noise and distractions.

>"Our job over the next 48 hours is to make sure Emilio gets to the start line clear, confident and not trying to find anything he doesn't already possess, so that he can go out there and display the game that has got him to this level."

>McCullum also confirmed that England's No 3 Jacob Bethell is fit to play in the first Test, despite having to cut short his time in the Indian Premier League with eventual winners Royal Challengers Bengaluru because of a finger injury on his left hand.

>Bethell was one of the few success stories from England's Ashes drubbing down under, scoring a maiden century in the final Test in Sydney.

>"His finger is fine - no problems there," McCullum confirmed. "You never know until you get into a Test match, but his game looks in good order.

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>"I know him working over in India is not ideal from a structure point of view, and not getting as much red-ball cricket under his belt, but he has a calm head and he's a very methodical thinker in terms of his preparing for the game.

>"He plays with a lot of flair, but he also puts a lot of thought into the game in terms of how he's going to operate. I feel confident that when Beth goes out there, there will be no excuses."

>Watch the first Test between England and New Zealand, at Lord's, live on Sky Sports Cricket and Main Event from 10am on Thursday (11am first ball). Not got Sky? Get Sky Sports or stream with NOW.