England Name Playing XI For Lord's Test Against New Zealand; James Anderon, Stuart Broad Return

England’s veteran pacers James Anderson and Stuart Broad have been recalled to the playing XI that was announced for the first of the 3-match Test series against New Zealand starting at Lord’s on June 2.

Ben Stokes will be leading the side for the first time after being named as Joe Root’s replacement while it will also be Brendon McCullum’s first game in charge as the new head coach.

Notably, Broad and Anderson were dropped from the squad for the Three Lions’ 3-match Test series against West Indies which they lost 0-1. They will now return, hoping to build on the combined tally of 1177 wickets between them.

Matt Potts is set to make his debut for the English side and Jack Leach completes the bowling lineup which is now dependent on Stokes and Root to fulfill the 5th bowler quota.

Jonny Bairstow will be a part of the lineup as well despite calls for Harry Brook to make his debut. Brook has been tearing it up at the domestic level but will have to wait for his chances.

WTC points are at stake with New Zealand keen to gather as much as possible while England is mathematically out of contention for a spot in the grand final.

England playing XI for first Test:

Zak Crawley, Alex Lees, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Jonny Bairstow, Ben Stokes (c), Ben Foakes (wk), Matthew Potts, Jack Leach, Stuart Broad, James Anderson.

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