England vs New Zealand: Shoaib Bashir backed as spinner for first Test

Shoaib Bashir has been backed as England's first-choice spinner for the first Test against New Zealand after being overlooked for the entire Ashes series.

Bashir has been named in a 12-man squad for Thursday's series opener at Lord's and will take his place in the XI, with England pondering the make-up of their pace attack.

Uncapped seamer Sonny Baker is also in the 12, possibly vying with Gus Atkinson for the final spot in the team.

Bashir has not played for England since the third Test against India on this ground last July, when he took the final wicket to win a thrilling contest despite having broken a finger.

The 22-year-old returned to fitness in time for the Ashes tour, but was ignored by England for the entirety of their 4-1 defeat.

While Bashir struggled in tour matches and in the nets, England explained his absence by pointing to conditions that were not helpful to spin bowlers.

"We firmly believe in Bash as an international cricketer," England head coach Brendon McCullum told BBC Sport.

"When I look back to why he wasn't required in Australia, it wasn't to do with how the ball was coming out of his hand per se, we just felt the conditions were not conducive to spin bowling - as did Australia.

"We remain hugely confident and optimistic about Bash as a cricketer and the role he can play for us."

Bashir had played only six first-class matches for Somerset when he was chosen to make his debut for England as a 20-year-old on the tour of India in 2024.

He was promoted to England's number one spinner despite not being the first choice at Somerset and has taken 68 wickets in his 19 Tests.

Bashir left Somerset at the end of last season to join Derbyshire, where he has taken 15 wickets in six County Championship matches at the beginning of this summer. He gets the nod at Lord's ahead of Rehan Ahmed, the leg-spinner missing out on playing his first home Test.

"What we've seen since he made the shift in county and been able to get game time under his belt - we know he's an immensely talented cricketer, and he just needs more and more opportunity," said McCullum.

"You can only do so much in the nets. Playing cricket for a young spinner, being able to work through situations and scenarios, to get some game time under his belt over the last little while has been hugely beneficial.

"He's growing at quite an amazing speed, not just in his spin bowling, but even just his presence, and his overall athleticism."

England will hand a Test debut to opener Emilio Gay in place of Zak Crawley, who has paid the price for his poor Ashes. Jacob Bethell has been passed fit after a finger injury and will bat at number three in a home Test for the first time.

The hosts are without Jofra Archer following his Indian Premier League commitments, while fellow pace bowler Brydon Carse is recovering from a broken wrist.

Ollie Robinson has been recalled to the England squad for the first time in more than two years and seems likely to take the new ball on a Lord's pitch that had a green tinge on Tuesday. The weather forecast is for rain for much of the Test.

And 23-year-old Baker's extra pace could come into contention if the grass is cut from the surface.

"There is a little bit of jeopardy around the conditions and the forecast over the next 48 hours," said McCullum. "We have a strong understanding of what we think will be our XI, but we do want to have the ability to pivot if required, if the conditions turn out to be slightly different to what we anticipate.

"Sonny Baker is quick. I think he's going be a cricketer the country really gets behind when he does play. He charges in and he leaves everything out there.

"He's full noise. He's exciting. He swings the ball both ways and he's obviously got the ability to touch 90mph. He's an exciting proposition, and his time, if it's not in this Test, his time will come. If it is in this Test, I'd expect him to do a good job."

England have also confirmed that captain Ben Stokes will swap places in the batting order with wicketkeeper Jamie Smith. Smith has moved up to number six, with Stokes dropping to number seven.

All-rounder Stokes has played 131 of his 216 Test innings at number six, including almost all of his four years as skipper.

But Stokes, who turns 35 on the opening day of the Test, has had diminishing returns with the bat. The left-hander averaged only 18 during the Ashes.

In Smith's short Test career, the 25-year-old averages 44 at number six compared to 38 at seven.

"We think it's quite a nice balance of trying to get Jamie Smith more time with the out and out batters, then if Stokesy finds himself operating with the tail he's got so much experience and he's batted in those positions frequently," said McCullum.

"It's a small tactical shift. It's something we'll have a go at and we'll see where it lands, but everyone is on board with it."

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