Duo uncapped For the first time in the two-game series against New Zealand, James Bracey and Ollie Robinson were summoned to the England Test team.
Gloucestershire’s James Bracey and Sussex’s seamstress Ollie Robinson may be online for their very first England caps after calling for test team on Tuesday. This pair is part of the 15-person group revealed by head coach Chris Silverwood for the two New Zealand Test series. There’s a test recall for all-rounder Somerset Craig Overton, who won Australia for the last of his four caps in September 2019. They are both wounded with their chances of shining with Jofra Archer and Ben Stokes.
Five players were also rested after their return from the Indian Premier League affected by the coronavirus.
Both Bracey and Robinson won their seats in the County Championship after an outstanding early season.
Bracey has scored 478 Championships to date, averaging 53, while Robinson has earned 29 wickets on average 14, three less than Overton, who is the world’s leading wicket buyer this season.
“After spending all winter and summer together with our proven test players they (Bracey and Robinson) are absorbed in planning and learning what to do on this stage,” Silverwood said.
“They are both resilient characters and show that they have the drive, temper and willingness to constantly strengthen themselves in order to excel in the international stage to me the captain (Joe Root) and the coaches.”
Good performance against Black Caps could win them a place in August in the five Test Home series with the awesome Indians.
But the perfect carrot for them will be to take on a role in Australia’s Ashes series later this year.
Stokes and Archer would be crucial if England is to recover the ashes.
Robinson’s Sussex team-mate Archer will see a doctor later this week on his right elbow.
“We must find that settled once and for all so that he can be completely fit for an intense winter, including a T20 World Cup and Ashes,” says Silverwood. Silverwood said.
“We need him to shoot in all game modes.”
Better news is about Stokes and the finger he broke during the IPL.
“If he continues to progress, we will see him return next month to Durham in the Vitality Blast competition (in June), without any effects on his recovery,” Silverwood said.
“We’re going to evaluate him again by the end of this month.”
On Friday 28 May before the first test, the squad will return to its base beginning on Lord’s on Wednesday 2 June.
The second test will take place at Edgbaston on 10 June.
Joe Root, Jacques Leach, James Overton, Ollie Pope, Ollie Robinson, Dom Sibley, Olly Stone, Mark Wood, James Brecey, Stuart Broad, Rory Burns, Zak Crawley, Ben Foakes, Dan Lawrence.
