Bashir returns to England team for first Test

Spinner 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."

England 12-man squad for first Test against New Zealand: Ben Duckett, Emilio Gay, Jacob Bethell, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Jamie Smith, Ben Stokes (captain), Gus Atkinson, Josh Tongue, Ollie Robinson, Sonny Baker, Shoaib Bashir.

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 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.