Uncapped Sussex bowler Henry Crocombe has been called into England’s squad for next week’s second Test against New Zealand as cover for Ollie Robinson.
Robinson, who took seven wickets on a dramatic return to Test cricket in the first Test at Lord’s, experienced knee soreness after a training session on Saturday.
He will have a “precautionary” scan later on Sunday.
England are also without bowler Gus Atkinson and captain Ben Stokes for the Test, which begins on Wednesday, after an incident in a London nightclub.
Crocombe, 24, has never previously been in an England squad but has been namechecked by England coach Brendon McCullum and managing director Rob Key in recent weeks.
He has taken 21 wickets in seven matches for Sussex this season and took 4-65 for England Lions against South Africa A last month.
Josh Tongue, Jofra Archer, Sonny Baker and Matt Fisher are the other seamers in England’s squad.
Who is Henry Crocombe?
Crocombe’s selection may raise eyebrows, given other recent picks such as Essex’s Sam Cook or Durham’s Matthew Potts have been overlooked, but it should not be a big surprise.
When England named their Test squad at the start of the summer, Key mentioned the tall, strong quick saying he had “really kicked on” this season.
Crocombe, a product of Sussex’s academy, was first picked by England Lions in 2024 before struggles with injury.
It was when he began this County Championship season with his first five-wicket haul, taking nine in the match against Leicestershire, that he began to seriously catch the eye.
Another right-arm quick, Crocombe bowls at a lively pace.
Overall, his statistics this season are solid – a Championship average of 28.61 while sitting joint 11th in the wicket-takers’ list – and he has the skills England value.
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