Jonny Bairstow left out of England Test squad for New Zealand tour

Jonny Bairstow has been left out of the Test squad to tour New Zealand next month as England made a number of changes for the two-Test series.

Warwickshire opener Dominic Sibley and Kent’s Zak Crawley were both rewarded for their accumulation of runs in this year’s county championship with first call-ups along with Lancashire bowlers Saqib Mahmood and Matt Parkinson.

In Bairstow’s absence from the 15-man squad Jos Buttler would be expected to take the gloves while Surrey’s Ollie Pope, who made his Test debut against India last summer, returns to the squad.

James Anderson was continues his recovery from a calf injury but hopes to be available for the South Africa tour later this winter.

The two Tests against New Zealand do not form part of the ICC World Test Championship.

England Test squad: Joe Root (Yorkshire) captain, Jofra Archer (Sussex), Stuart Broad (Nottinghamshire), Rory Burns (Surrey), Jos Buttler (Lancashire), Zak Crawley (Kent), Sam Curran (Surrey), Joe Denly (Kent), Jack Leach (Somerset), Saqib Mahmood (Lancashire), Matthew Parkinson (Lancashire), Ollie Pope (Surrey), Dominic Sibley (Warwickshire), Ben Stokes (Durham), Chris Woakes (Warwickshire).

More to follow

source: theguardian.com