Ollie Robinson, Emilio Gay, James Rew and Sonny Baker in England Test squad
Few doubt Robinson’s pedigree and competitiveness as one of the leading seamers in the country and that he will add much-needed fire to England’s attack.
He was contacted by the England management at the start of the season and was given the responsibility of captaining Sussex. Robinson led his county to three wins from five matches, taking 17 wickets and scoring an impressive century against Surrey en route.
Robinson joins Josh Tongue, Gus Atkinson, Matthew Fisher and 23-year-old Baker in the pace bowling group. Jofra Archer is in the Indian Premier League and will not be ready until the second of three Tests, while Brydon Carse is recovering from a broken wrist.
Language was impressive during the Ashes; Atkinson was selected despite the concussion sustained by Tongue in Surrey’s County Championship match in Nottinghamshire at the weekend.
Surrey’s Fisher, 28, has been called up to the Ashes squad and could add to his one-Test cap against the West Indies in 2022.
Baker is immensely talented but struggled in his international debuts in white-ball cricket last year. He joined after a strong start to the season with Hampshire.
Crawley’s absence was inevitable. No opener in Test history has been given as many opportunities at the top of the order as Crawley, who batted 104 at an average of less than 30.52.
Gay looks set to take the opening baton alongside Ben Duckett at Lord’s after scoring three centuries for Durham at the start of the season.
If he does so, Gay will become a dual international after previously playing in three T20s for Italy. He also turned down an approach from the West Indies.
Despite his young age, Rew already has 12 first-class hundreds. England, who are usually mid-table, asked him to open for Somerset. The first time he did so, against Glamorgan in the previous round of the championship, he was four points behind and nil.
It therefore seems likely that Rew will wait his turn behind the established middle order of Jacob Bethell, Joe Root, Harry Brook, skipper Stokes and wicketkeeper Jamie Smith.
England held a review after the Ashes were negatively affected by poor performances on the field and problems off the field. Director of cricket Rob Key, coach McCullum and captain Stokes retained their jobs.
The team will assemble for a training camp in Loughborough on May 22, a week before the first Test.
