James Anderson and Stuart Broad, England’s top-two Test bowlers, will start for the team when they lock horns with New Zealand in the first Test of the three-match series at the Lord’s Stadium, London. Bowling all-rounder Matthew Potts will make his debut. 

England lock horns with New Zealand on June 2 for the first Test. 

Also read: Stuart Broad vows to leave his ‘heart and soul’ for England, vs New Zealand

Anderson is currently England’s top wicket-taker in Tests. He is the most successful pacer in the format. In 169 matches, the 39-year-old has taken 640 scalps. Stuart Broad, on the other hand, has 537 wickets in 152 matches. The two have been instumental in the team’s success with the red ball. However, they were dropped after a 4-0 Ashes defeat. The pace duo did not tour the West Indies, where Joe Root and co faced a 1-0 defeat. 

England have a new captain and coach now. The New Zealand Test will be Ben Stokes and Brendan McCullum’s first assignment in their respective roles. The team has won one out of their last 17 matches and is currently placed on the ninth rung of the World Test Championship table. 

Also read: Jos Buttler back in whites? England Test coach Brendan McCullum drops hint

The playing 11 announced on Wednesday saw a 23-year-old Potts chosen over the likes of an established Craig Overton. Several of England’s fast bowlers are out with injury. Those include – Mark Wood, Chris Woakes, Ollie Robinson, Jofra Archer, Saqib Mahmood, Matt Fisher and Olly Stone.

Also read: England coach McCullum: In Stokes, team has a ‘follow me’ type of captain

Matthew Potts represents Durham at the domestic level. He picked 35 wickets in his six County Championship matches this season. Spinner Jack Leach will start for the Three Lions and Alex Lees has been drafted as an opener. 

England team to play New Zealand in the first Test at Lord’s:

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