England v New Zealand: The Cricketer writers pick their England squads for the first Test

GEORGE DOBELL, HUW TURBERVILL, JAMES COYNE, NICK HOWSON, NICK FRIEND and ELIZABETH BOTCHERBY play selector ahead of the first Test of the summer

England face New Zealand at Lord's from June 2 in the first Test of the summer.

Here, The Cricketer's team of writers pick their 14-man England squads for the game.

GEORGE DOBELL

The name of Jamie Overton is probably the one that jumps out. But with several seamers struggling with injuries (Saqib Mahmood, Mark Wood, Chris Woakes and perhaps Ollie Robinson, too), he may well be worth a look.

He can bowl with more pace than the rest of them and his batting can balance the side at No. 8. He's not as consistent as his brother, but he might have a higher ceiling. A Lord's Test in June might not be the ideal place to start with him - Craig may well be the better option in such conditions - but I'd involve him with a view to flatter pitches looming later in the year.

I see Dom Sibley and Sam Robson as the openers with Zak Crawley at No. 3. Harry Brook can come in at No. 5 - which means that Ollie Pope is unfortunate to miss out - with Ben Foakes retaining his place.

If Ben Stokes is fit to play a decent part as a bowler, I'd pick Matt Parkinson as spinner - which is probably harsh on the faultless Jack Leach - and I'd be tempted to take a look at Matty Potts, too.

I'd give all those at the IPL at least a week off to refresh themselves. 

My squad: Ben Stokes (c), James Anderson, Henry Brook, Zak Crawley, Ben Foakes, Jack Leach, Craig Overton, Jamie Overton, Matt Parkinson, Matt Potts, Ollie Robinson (Stuart Broad if not fit), Sam Robson, Joe Root, Dom Sibley

^{Will Stuart Broad make a return to the Test squad [Getty Images]}

HUW TURBERVILL

Oh to be a fly on the wall as Rob Key, James Taylor and Ben Stokes meet for the first time, talking to Brendon McCullum who has woken up in the early hours and is tuning in from New Zealand on Zoom.

They need to get the top three right at last. Tom Haines has averaged 41 this season in a struggling Sussex side, and I've not seen any criticism of his technique from experts. It will be refreshing to have a top-order technician who doesn't attract seemingly endless critical analysis. Alex Lees fought hard in the West Indies and deserves another go to see if he can find the slightly more expansive side to his game that is probably needed. He has started the season well too with two centuries.

I'm keen to see Josh Bohannon in action, seeing and hearing good things about him. The talented Zak Crawley needs more consistency.

Likewise Harry Brooks is intriguing, although I still think Dan Lawrence has much to offer – he was excellent in the Barbados Test, really making the running for the tourists, especially with his first-innings 91. He is another who needs greater consistency, however.

Ben Compton, Dawid Malan and Keaton Jennings might all be mentioned in the selection meeting.

Ben Foakes deserves another chance, even if he didn't nail down the keeper's spot in the West Indies… he has started the season well too, but Jonny Bairstow is eyeing a return behind the stumps.

Jamie Overton looks a left-field choice, but he's been talked about for many years. I've watched him bowl at The Oval and Beckenham this summer and he's been quick, impressively bouncing back from last season's dismal campaign with 16 wickets at 22 apiece. We are crying out for genuine pace in Test cricket. With Jofra Archer, Mark Wood, Olly Stone and Saqib Mahmood all out, I'd try him now. Why not? He'd also be a handy bat at No.8, averaging 61 with two half-centuries.

Ditto Matt Parkinson. The decision not to give him at least one Test in the Caribbean looks odd. If it doesn't work out, we can go back to Jack Leach.

My squad: Ben Stokes (c), James Anderson, Jonny Bairstow, Josh Bohannon, Stuart Broad, Ben Foakes (wk), Tom Haines, Dan Lawrence, Jack Leach, Alex Lees, Craig Overton, Jamie Overton, Matt Parkinson, Joe Root

^{Harry Brook has been in excellent form for Yorkshire [Getty Images]}

JAMES COYNE

I have picked my 14 on the basis that Dan Lawrence, Mark Wood and Chris Woakes won't be fit.

I have also dropped Alex Lees because I just think Rory Burns and Zak Crawley are England’s two best openers. They have strangely only opened together in one Test so far, but I hope are sufficiently different to dovetail nicely.

I'd probably stick with Joe Root at No.3 until an obvious candidate could force their way into that position – and for that reason Ben Duckett is in my squad. I think he has improved significantly since his last international exposure.

Harry Brook looks the outstanding uncapped Test batsman right now, and deserves to play, though it will be interesting to see if he adjusts his bat on ball Championship mentality.

Ben Foakes stays as my wicketkeeper, but in an ideal world Jonny Bairstow would be keeping regularly in first-class cricket, because I'd be prepared to play him as keeper/batsman at home, and Foakes in tougher conditions where more standing up is required.

I find room for both Jack Leach and Matt Parkinson – with the decision based on the pitch. I really don't like England picking all-seam attacks, especially in such dry weather.

The seam attack looks a real problem, with the three fastest bowlers (Wood, Jofra Archer and Ollie Stone) all out for a long while and the one faintly unorthodox one (Saqib Mahmood) also out for the season. On that basis, and the fact he is genuinely quick, it's time for Jamie Overton to provide the extra pace England may well need if the weather is set fair.

I have serious misgivings about picking both James Anderson and Stuart Broad in the same XI, but what choice do England have if they're the only ones standing? Lord's swings and seams more than almost anywhere, so they could both play, especially if Woakes is absent.

I would like to pick Ollie Robinson, but he just doesn’t look fit enough to me. I'm nowhere near convinced about Craig Overton as a Test bowler, but at least he's bowling some overs, so he could easily make it. But I'm plumping for Matty Potts from Durham – and hoping that he can hold a bat enough to muck in at No.8.

Not ideal – but then how much is English cricket right now?

My squad: Ben Stokes (c), James Anderson, Jonny Bairstow, Stuart Broad, Harry Brook, Rory Burns, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ben Foakes (wk), Jack Leach, Jamie Overton, Matt Parkinson, Matty Potts, Joe Root

^{Tom Haines could be a wildcard selection [Getty Images]}

NICK HOWSON

Let's not pretend that the outcome of the New Zealand series is particularly important. This is about playing exciting cricket with some new or untried players.

Brendon McCullum needs to develop a culture that rewards players for red-ball form. Harry Brook, Matthew Potts and Tom Haines are unignorable. Matt Parkinson, too. James Vince, meanwhile, has also had a good start and has curiously only played 13 Tests.

But this is also an opportunity for some fun. Thirty-five-year-old Keith Barker has taken his Championship wickets at less than 19 since the start of last season, offers a coveted left-arm option and can bat a bit.

Otherwise, the core of the squad that went to Australia and the West Indies should remain - good individuals caught in a slump - while the old favourites must return.

Chris Woakes and Ollie Robinson are un-selectable based on fitness and Jonny Bairstow cannot surely be considered having been in the IPL.

My squad: Ben Stokes (c), James Anderson, Keith Barker, Stuart Broad, Harry Brook, Zak Crawley, Ben Foakes, Tom Haines, Alex Lees, Matt Parkinson, Ollie Pope, Matthew Potts, Joe Root, James Vince

^{Matty Potts is set for a first call-up [Getty Images]}

NICK FRIEND

A difficult squad to put together, but partially for some of the right reasons, which makes a nice change after the circumstances of the winter. What will be fascinating – and what will quickly become apparent – is how much weight those in charge of selection place on the last month. Will we have a squad packed full of County Championship bolters or a group of mainly tried and tested faces? The answer, I think, is likely to be a mix.

I've picked three openers and would have no qualms about any two of them facing up against New Zealand in June.

In Lees' case, he is the man in possession, came out of the Caribbean with more credit than some others and, frankly, deserves at least the start of the summer before observers make up their minds. He has helped his cause further with a pair of hundreds and a couple of half centuries.

Robson is the best opener I've watched this season: two contrasting hundreds – one to set up a big chase against Sussex, another to stave off a high-class Nottinghamshire seam attack. He averaged 30.54 in his seven Tests when he was picked in 2014 but then found himself cast off. Those numbers aren't disastrous, and he has an international ton to his name. For what it's worth, he is a far better player now in any case and, at 32 years of age, has had the time to hone his game and develop the thick-skinned stoicism needed to be an England opener.

Likewise, Sibley spent the winter working at his game and has come back looking still as solid as before but with more shots. He carried his bat against a fine Lancashire attack, featuring Parkinson, who makes my squad along with Leach. Once again, I'd understand either selection.

Harry Brook has battered the door down so squeezes into this squad ahead of Ollie Pope, who hasn't started the summer badly himself, mind! But with only two batting spots available in the middle order – with Root and Stokes firmly ensconced – Brook slots in at No.5. At No.3, I've gone with Malan but without a strong view either way.  He is in fine form, and it would feel a shame if his slightly odd Test career ended in Hobart.

Anderson and Broad are obvious picks (as they ought to have been in the Caribbean), and I'm going with Jamie over Craig in the Overton Dilemma: he has bowled with pace and better direction than often in the past, often on pitches that have been challenging for seamers. His batting has also been more consistent than his brother's – and England will need it, or the tail will look worryingly long. Matty Potts, meanwhile, has been the standout English seamer so far this season, and that form should be rewarded.

My squad: Ben Stokes (c), James Anderson, Jonny Bairstow, Stuart Broad, Harry Brook, Jack Leach, Alex Lees, Dawid Malan, Jamie Overton, Matt Parkinson, Matty Potts, Joe Root, Dom Sibley, Sam Robson

^{Matt Parkinson could finally make his Test bow [Getty Images]}

ELIZABETH BOTCHERBY

Ben Stokes, Jonny Bairstow, Joe Root, James Anderson and Stuart Broad are obvious inclusions. Ben Foakes deserves an extended run with the gloves – Jos Buttler was given a lot of chances – and he's pipping James Bracey for both runs (395) and dismissals (24) in Division One.  

County form (picking on form... how radical) and the dawn of a new era dictates the batting selections with Harry Brook, Dawid Malan and Tom Haines joining Alex Lees – he deserves more than a couple of Tests before judgement day. 

Brook is in electric touch while Haines is averaging 51.40 for Sussex and both batters have confidence in abundance, something largely absent from England’s top five in recent years. As for Malan, 528 runs at 66 speaks for itself and he'll add valuable experience up top.  

With most of the usual suspects injured and Ollie Robinson not worth the fitness risk at present, it's Matty Potts' time to shine with the ball. He is the leading wicket-taker (35) across both divisions and has four five-fors in six matches in 2022.  

Mr Miserly Oliver Hannon-Dalby is the curveball choice, pipping Craig Overton, but his patience and economical bowling could prove handy while Matt Parkinson surely, finally, deserves a chance. I've used up my fun selection on Hannon-Dalby (sorry, Keith Barker) and the sensible 14th man would be Jack Leach.  

My squad: Ben Stokes (c), James Anderson, Jonny Bairstow, Stuart Broad, Harry Brook, Ben Foakes (wk), Tom Haines, Oliver Hannon-Dalby, Jack Leach, Alex Lees, Dawid Malan, Matt Parkinson, Matty Potts, Joe Root 

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