Overview
- England’s leadership held a video briefing with county coaches this week to set out what they want from future Test and England Lions players.
- Ben Stokes told players the first six to seven weeks of the County Championship are a chance to push for selection before New Zealand visit Lord’s on June 4.
- Stokes is recovering from facial surgery and is set to miss the first month of Durham’s season while he awaits specialist clearance.
- With the national selector role vacant, ECB talent lead David Court, Rob Key and a small scout team will track early-season form for squad decisions.
- Only a few Ashes squad members are due to play the opening round, as others are in the IPL, injured or resting, with Zak Crawley, Ollie Pope, Jamie Smith, Matthew Potts and Shoaib Bashir among those featuring.