England Names New Fielding Coach and Announces Test Squad for New Zealand Series

England has named three uncapped players in their Test squad for the upcoming series against New Zealand, alongside the significant appointment of Sarah Taylor as the first female fielding coach in the men’s senior setup. Taylor, 36, will oversee fielding drills during the three-Test series starting at Lord’s on June 4. Her appointment is seen as a notable step, given her experience in the men’s game with Sussex and Manchester Originals.

The squad also sees the return of Ollie Robinson after a two-year absence, attributed to his struggles with fitness. Robinson, now 32 and having captained Sussex to recent successes, is expected to take the new ball at Lord’s. Emilio Gay and James Rew, both heavy run-scorers in the County Championship, receive their maiden call-ups, with Gay set to open alongside Ben Duckett. Sonny Baker is the third uncapped player included for his pace and skill at Hampshire.

The selection reflects a shift towards prioritizing domestic performances, as pledged after the Ashes defeat. Zak Crawley, with a Test average of 31, is omitted, symbolizing a move away from stylistic selections without consistent results. The door remains open for omitted players like Crawley, Pope, Potts, and Jacks, as evidenced by Robinson’s recall.

Jofra Archer’s workload is being managed, delaying his full return, while Rehan Ahmed and Jacob Bethell will join the squad post-IPL. The first-choice spinner remains undecided between Shoaib Bashir and Rehan Ahmed.

The series against New Zealand begins amidst these changes, with England aiming to rectify their fielding shortcomings from the Ashes, where 17 catches were dropped.