England have announced a revamped 15-member squad for the opening Test against New Zealand at Lord’s, making several major changes after their disappointing Ashes campaign in Australia earlier this year. The squad, revealed on Wednesday, marks the beginning of a new phase under recently appointed national selector Marcus North, who has introduced fresh faces and recalled experienced players in an attempt to rebuild England’s red-ball setup ahead of an important home summer.

The biggest talking point from the squad announcement is the exclusion of opening batter Zak Crawley. Once regarded as one of England’s most promising Test batters, Crawley has struggled for consistency over the last year, and his poor returns in the Ashes series eventually forced the selectors to look elsewhere. Replacing him is Durham opener Emilio Gay, who has been rewarded for his exceptional performances in county cricket this season.

Gay has been one of the standout performers in the County Championship, scoring 552 runs at an impressive average of 92, including three centuries. The 24-year-old left-hander is expected to open the batting alongside Ben Duckett and could make his Test debut at the iconic Lord’s Cricket Ground when the three-match series begins on June 4.

Another notable inclusion is Somerset youngster James Rew, who has been selected as a backup batter and wicketkeeping option. Rew has consistently impressed in domestic cricket with his calm batting temperament and adaptability. England see him as one of the future prospects in red-ball cricket, and his inclusion signals the selectors’ willingness to invest in youth ahead of the next World Test Championship cycle.

The squad also includes uncapped fast bowler Sonny Baker from Hampshire. Baker recently grabbed attention with a five-wicket haul in county cricket and has earned his maiden national call-up. England management believes his raw pace and attacking style could prove useful, especially with injuries affecting the pace department.

England’s bowling attack has undergone significant changes due to the absence of several senior fast bowlers. Mark Wood and Brydon Carse have both been ruled out because of injuries, creating opportunities for others to step up. One of the biggest beneficiaries is Ollie Robinson, who returns to the Test setup after nearly two years.

Robinson’s comeback follows a strong domestic season with Sussex, where he recently picked up six wickets and demonstrated improved rhythm and fitness. The tall seamer is expected to play a key role alongside Gus Atkinson and Josh Tongue in England’s pace attack. Robinson’s ability to maintain tight lines and extract movement from English conditions could be crucial against a strong New Zealand batting lineup.

Captain Ben Stokes is also likely to contribute with the ball. Since recovering from previous fitness concerns, Stokes has gradually increased his bowling workload and may once again be used as a fourth seam option during the series.

England have selected two spin options in the squad — Rehan Ahmed and Shoaib Bashir. Young leg-spinner Rehan Ahmed continues to be viewed as one of England’s exciting all-format talents. He is currently part of Delhi Capitals in the IPL but will join the national squad ahead of the series. Bashir, meanwhile, has impressed with his control and consistency in county cricket while representing Derbyshire.

Conditions at Lord’s traditionally favor seam bowlers, so England may opt for only one specialist spinner in the playing XI. However, both Rehan and Bashir are expected to play important roles during the series, particularly if the pitches begin to wear later in the matches.

The rest of the batting lineup features several familiar names, including Joe Root and Harry Brook. Root remains England’s most experienced batter and will once again be central to the team’s middle-order stability. Brook, despite an inconsistent Ashes series, continues to enjoy strong backing from the team management due to his aggressive batting style and match-winning potential.

Jacob Bethell has also retained his place in the squad after showing promise in recent appearances. Jamie Smith will continue as the primary wicketkeeper, while Matthew Fisher provides additional pace-bowling depth.

England’s squad announcement also included a historic coaching decision. Former England women’s star Sarah Taylor has been appointed as the fielding coach for the men’s Test team during the New Zealand series. She becomes the first woman to work with the senior England men’s side in such a role.

Taylor has been brought in on a short-term basis to replace Carl Hopkinson, who is currently working with Mumbai Indians in the IPL. Widely regarded as one of the best wicketkeepers and fielders in women’s cricket history, Taylor’s appointment has been praised as a progressive step by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB).

The upcoming Test series against New Zealand is expected to be an important challenge for England as they look to rebuild confidence after their Ashes disappointment. The selectors’ decision to make seven changes reflects a clear intent to refresh the squad and reward domestic performances.

New Zealand, known for their disciplined bowling and resilient batting, are expected to provide strong competition. England will hope that the blend of youth and experience in the squad helps them start the home summer positively and lay the foundation for future Test success.

The full England squad for the first Test includes Ben Stokes (captain), 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 and Josh Tongue.

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Just weeks before the highly anticipated player auction for The Hundred 2026, the tournament has been rocked by controversy. Multiple reports confirmed by BBC Sport reveal that the four franchises with Indian Premier League (IPL) ownership are unlikely to bid for any Pakistan internationals, continuing what agents describe as an "unwritten rule" across global T20 leagues with Indian investment .

The development threatens to undermine the England and Wales Cricket Board's (ECB) commitment to diversity just as the competition enters a new financial era following a £500m private investment influx.

Which Teams Are Affected?

The decision impacts half of the eight teams in the competition. Manchester Super Giants (co-owned by Lucknow Super Giants' RPSG Group), MI London (Mumbai Indians), Southern Brave (Delhi Capitals' GMR Group), and Sunrisers Leeds (Sunrisers Hyderabad) are all at least partially controlled by entities with deep roots in the IPL .

According to the BBC, a senior ECB official reportedly informed a player agent that interest in Pakistan players would be "limited to sides not linked to the IPL." One agent described the situation as an industry-wide reality, stating it is simply "a given" that Indian-owned franchises will not risk political backlash by signing players from across the border .

63 Pakistan Players in Limbo

The irony of the situation is stark. Despite the apparent blockade, a massive 63 Pakistan cricketers have registered for the March auction . The list includes almost all of Pakistan's T20 stars, such as Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf, Shadab Khan, Saim Ayub, and new white-ball captain Salman Ali Agha .

They join a pool of nearly 1,000 international players hoping to secure a contract in the competition, which runs from July 21 to August 16. However, with four teams effectively ruling themselves out, the remaining four franchises—London Spirit, Welsh Fire, Birmingham Phoenix, and Trent Rockets—represent the only potential destinations for Pakistani talent.

ECB Responds Amid Pressure

The ECB finds itself in a difficult position. While it sold stakes in the teams, it retains control of the competition and insists on anti-discrimination policies.

An ECB spokesperson reiterated the board's official stance: "The Hundred welcomes men's and women's players from all over the world and we would expect the eight teams to reflect that" .

However, former England captain Michael Vaughan has demanded urgent action. Reacting to the reports on social media, Vaughan wrote: "The ECB need to act fast on this. They own the league and this should not be allowed to happen. The most inclusive sport in the country is not one that allows this to happen" .

Last year, ECB Chief Executive Richard Gould attempted to soothe fears, stating he expected "players from all nations to be selected for all teams" and that anti-discrimination policies were in place to ensure fairness .

A Global Pattern: From SA20 to ILT20

This is not an isolated incident. The same IPL-linked franchises have consistently avoided Pakistan players in other leagues.

- SA20 (South Africa): Since its 2023 launch, no Pakistan player has featured. All six teams are IPL-owned .

- ILT20 (UAE): Over four seasons, franchises controlled by the owners of MI London and Southern Brave have signed zero Pakistan players, while American-owned Desert Vipers have recruited eight .

Tom Moffat, chief executive of the World Cricketers' Association, stressed the importance of fair play. "Every player should have the right to fair and equal opportunity," he said. "While employers have autonomy in recruitment, those decisions should always align with principles of fairness, equality and respect" .

What Happens Next?

The player auction is scheduled for March 11 and 12 in London .

While franchises like Birmingham Phoenix have publicly stated they pick players "based on what they bring on the field," the silence from the four IPL-linked teams is deafening . As one prominent agent told the BBC, "Our players do not seek favours, they seek a fair field. I hope I am proven wrong" .

With the tournament set to begin on July 21, the coming weeks will determine whether The Hundred lives up to its name as a competition for all, or whether geopolitical tensions drawn a line through the team sheets.

England’s troubled Ashes tour in Australia has taken a fresh off-field twist as the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) confirmed it is investigating a viral “Ben Duckett drunk video” allegedly filmed during the team’s mid-series break in Noosa.

The clip, widely shared on X, appears to show the England opener intoxicated and struggling to remember the way back to his team hotel after the second Test defeat in Brisbane.

What the viral Ben Duckett drunk video shows

In the 70–80 second clip circulating on social media, a man identified as Ben Duckett is seen slurring his speech while talking to a small group outside what appears to be a pub in Noosa. When a woman asks if he knows how to get home, he replies “No,” appearing confused and disoriented as others try to guide him. The video also captures Duckett using expletives and saying “I’ll order an Uber on your phone” as he asks for help getting back.

The footage is reported to have been filmed during England’s four-day stay in the Sunshine Coast resort town between the second and third Ashes Tests, a trip that was originally billed as a chance for players to “refresh and unwind” after going 2-0 down. Its emergence has intensified scrutiny of the squad’s off-field behaviour amid an already “nightmare” Ashes campaign.

ECB’s official response and ongoing investigation

The ECB issued a brief statement saying it is “aware of content circulating on social media” and is now “establishing the facts” around the Ben Duckett drunk video and broader reports of drinking during the Noosa break. The board reiterated that it has “high expectations” of player behaviour, acknowledged the intense public scrutiny cricketers face, and said it would not comment further until the investigation is complete.

Rob Key, managing director of England men’s cricket, had already said earlier in the day that he would examine claims that the Noosa trip resembled a “stag do” with excessive alcohol consumption. “If there are things where people are saying that our players went out and drank excessively, then of course we’ll be looking into that,” Key told reporters, adding that heavy drinking during a major Test tour was not acceptable.

Noosa trip, Ashes failure and player pressure

The England camp travelled to Noosa for a four-night stay after their eight-wicket defeat in Brisbane, with head coach Brendon McCullum reportedly planning the break well in advance to help players reset mentally during the long tour. However, Australian media and fans closely followed the squad, with reports of players seen drinking on the high street and accusations that the break was poorly timed given the team’s on-field struggles.

England have already surrendered the Ashes, trailing 3-0 with the urn lost in just 11 days of play, turning the Noosa controversy into another flashpoint in a disastrous series. Former coaches and pundits have questioned whether discipline and preparation standards have slipped, while others argue that players are entitled to downtime and that such clips can lack full context.

Why the Ben Duckett drunk video matters now

For fans and the ECB, the Ben Duckett drunk video raises three key concerns:

• Image of the England team at a time of heavy defeat and intense media criticism.
  
  

• Player welfare and alcohol use under pressure during long overseas tours.
  
  

• Dressing-room culture and whether off-field habits are undermining performance.
  
  

Cricket analysts suggest this investigation could shape future tour protocols, including stricter monitoring of team breaks, clearer alcohol policies, and stronger support systems for players coping with stress.

As the ECB gathers evidence around the Ben Duckett drunk video and the Noosa allegations, the episode has already become a defining off-field story of the 2025–26 Ashes – one that England can ill afford after another failed bid to win the urn in Australia.