England have named young Durham quick Matthew Potts in their playing XI for the first of three home Tests against New Zealand, beginning Thursday, June 2 at Lord’s.
The 23-year-old Durham speedster was picked ahead of Craig Overton, alongside veterans Stuart Broad and James Anderson, both of whom had last represented England during the 2021-22 Ashes Down Under.
Potts, who is set to don England’s Test cap No. 704, leads the wicket-taking charts at the County Championship 2022, with 35 scalps at 18.57, including four five-fors and a 10-wicket match haul from six games.
The right-arm quick, who regularly clocks around 85 mph, accounted for Test batters Azhar Ali, Haseeb Hameed and Ben Duckett among others during his glorious start to the season with Durham.
Ben Stokes, the newly appointed England captain, who played alongside Potts for Durham, lauded the youngster for his rise.
“I’ve spent three games playing with him this summer and he has been outstanding. He has been the guy [Durham captain] Scott Borthwick has turned to for wickets.
“The one thing that really made my mind up with him being in the squad was when he bowled us to victory against Glamorgan on day four with a bit of a stiff side.
“He has been absolutely phenomenal – he is an athlete and everything I expect this team to be about going forward.”
Stokes noted.
Zak Crawley, Alex Lees and Ollie Pope form a new-look top-order for England, with former skipper Joe Root and his Yorkshire teammate Jonny Bairstow to follow. Stokes takes the all-rounder’s slot at No.6, with Ben Foakes named as the designated wicket-keeper. Meanwhile, Jack Leach has been named the specialist spinner in a seam heavy attack.
