There was the prospect of a new international season for England and the return of spectators for Wednesday's first Test against New Zealand. Most significantly, there at England practice was a new wicketkeeper, seemingly catapulted from nowhere into a Test debut against the Kiwis. James Bracey is set to make his Test debut for England against New Zealand at Lord'sThe odds would have been long just a few weeks ago on James Bracey taking the gloves for the first Test of a seismic year or so for Joe Root’s England. Not that the Gloucestershire left-hander is an unknown quantity, because he has long been identified as a potential Test player. There was a reminder of the past at Lord’s in the shape of former long-serving England manager Phil Neale.

Source: Daily Mail May 31, 2021 21:30 UTC