England have recalled Ollie Robinson after two years away from international cricket and included uncapped players Emilio Gay, James Rew and Sonny Baker for the first Test following the disappointing Ashes series.

The 32-year-old Sussex fast bowler comes back into the fold after his 2024 omission, as England seek a spearhead for their seam attack against New Zealand at Lord's starting 4 June.

As anticipated, opener Zak Crawley suffers the consequences of his poor Australia tour - which culminated in England's 4-1 loss - and misses out for the first time under captain Ben Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum since they assumed control in 2022.

Crawley's spot in the team is expected to be filled by Durham's 26-year-old Gay, who edges out fellow left-hander Rew, aged 22, thanks to his experience as a dedicated opener.

Shoaib Bashir makes the squad despite being overlooked throughout the Ashes and will compete with Rehan Ahmed for the spin role. Leg-spinner Ahmed could feature in a home Test for the first time.

Following his exclusion, Hampshire's 36-year-old left-arm spinner Liam Dawson - who returned for the fourth India Test last summer before being ignored for the Ashes - has retired from first-class cricket immediately.

England have announced Australian Marcus North as the new national selector. The Durham cricket director succeeds Luke Wright, who resigned for personal reasons post-Ashes, and becomes the first non-Briton to lead the selection panel.

The standout element of North's debut squad is Robinson's return to a fast-bowling unit requiring renewal after the departures of Stuart Broad, James Anderson and Chris Woakes in recent years.

Robinson boasts an outstanding Test record of 76 wickets at under 23 apiece in 20 games. He was viewed as the successor to Anderson and Broad with the new ball.

However, he lost his place after the India tour over two years back. England became impatient with recurring fitness concerns - Robinson dealt with back problems in his last two Tests: versus Australia at Headingley in 2023 and India in Ranchi in 2024.

England squad for first Test v New Zealand: Ben Stokes, Rehan Ahmed, Gus Atkinson, Sonny Baker, Shoaib Bashir, Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook, Ben Duckett, Matthew Fisher, Emilio Gay, James Rew, Ollie Robinson, Joe Root, Jamie Smith, Josh Tongue.

Robinson's class as one of England's top seamers is unquestioned, and his aggression will inject vital intensity into the bowling lineup.

England's management reached out to him early in the season, tasking him with leading Sussex. He has guided them to three victories in five outings, claiming 17 wickets and hitting a notable hundred against Surrey.

Robinson links up with Josh Tongue, Gus Atkinson, Matthew Fisher and 23-year-old Baker in the seam group. Jofra Archer remains with the Indian Premier League and won't be available until the second of three Tests, while Brydon Carse recovers from a wrist fracture.

Tongue shone in the Ashes, and Atkinson is selected despite a recent concussion from Tongue in Surrey's County Championship game at Nottinghamshire.

Surrey's 28-year-old Fisher joined the Ashes squad and may earn a second cap after his debut against West Indies in 2022.

Baker shows great promise despite tough white-ball international starts last year. His selection follows a solid county campaign with Hampshire.

Crawley's omission was expected. No Test opener has had 104 innings at the top with an average below 30.52 like his.

Gay looks favored to partner Ben Duckett at Lord's, buoyed by three centuries for Durham early in the season.

Should he play, Gay will be a dual representative after three T20s for Italy and rejecting a West Indies offer.

At 22, Rew has 12 first-class tons. Typically a middle-order player, England has trialed him opening for Somerset. In his debut there against Glamorgan last round, he scored four and nought.

Thus, Rew may bide time behind the settled middle order of Jacob Bethell, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Stokes and keeper Jamie Smith.

Post-Ashes review addressed on-field struggles and off-field issues. Director of cricket Rob Key, McCullum and Stokes retained their roles.

The group gathers for a Loughborough training camp on 24 May, seven days before the opener.