Durham’s Emilio Gay has received his first full England call-up for the opening Test of the 2026 summer against New Zealand, alongside Test captain Ben Stokes.
The England Men’s selection panel has named a 15-player squad for the first Rothesay Test match against New Zealand at Lord’s, which begins on Thursday 4 June 2026.
Emilio Gay earns his maiden Test call after making a blistering start to the 2026 County Championship scoring three centuries among 554 runs at an average of 92 in five matches, backing up an impressive year in the England Lions setup.
Having initially joined the club on loan in 2024, Gay averages 51 in first-class cricket for Durham across 22 matches with seven centuries and a high score of 161 coming against Worcestershire in Chester-le-Street in 2025.
Sonny Baker is also included in an England Test squad for the first time, having debuted in both white-ball formats for England last summer.
James Rew is named in an England squad for the first time in a year while Matthew Fisher and Ollie Robinson return to the setup looking to boost England’s seam attack.
Brydon Carse misses out due to a hand injury sustained in India.
*England Men’s Test Squad:*
Ben Stokes (Durham) – Captain, Rehan Ahmed (Leicestershire), Gus Atkinson (Surrey), Sonny Baker (Hampshire), Shoaib Bashir (Somerset), Jacob Bethell (Warwickshire), Harry Brook (Yorkshire), Ben Duckett (Nottinghamshire), Matthew Fisher (Surrey), Emilio Gay (Durham), James Rew (Somerset), Ollie Robinson (Sussex), Joe Root (Yorkshire), Jamie Smith (Surrey), Josh Tongue (Nottinghamshire)
The squad will report for a training camp at Loughborough in the week commencing 24 May. Rehan Ahmed and Jacob Bethell, who are currently playing in the Indian Premier League, will return to England once their commitments with Delhi Capitals and Royal Challengers Bengaluru have concluded.
England Men’s Managing Director, Rob Key, said: “We’ve selected a squad that we believe has a really exciting blend of proven international quality, strong county form and players with huge potential to develop at Test level.
“Emilio, James and Sonny have all earned their opportunities through consistent performances and have impressed us not only with their talent, but with the way they’ve gone about their cricket in high-pressure situations.
“It’s also great to welcome back players like Rehan, Matt and Ollie, who all bring different qualities and experience to the group. Competition for places remains incredibly strong and that’s exactly where we want to be as a Test team.
“Jofra Archer is unavailable for the first Test. He continues to play in the IPL, and it is about building him up for red-ball cricket after a long six months on the road.”