London, Jun 1 (AP) James Anderson and Stuart Broad, the most prolific wicket-takers in English test history, will return to the team for the first match of the three-test cricket series against New Zealand starting Thursday at Lord's.

There was also a new face alongside the two veterans in the bowling attack when the team was named on Wednesday, with Matthew Potts selected for his debut to complete the lineup of seamers.

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The 39-year-old Anderson and 35-year-old Broad were dropped for the recent tour of the West Indies but return at the first time of asking under new captain Ben Stokes and head coach Brendon McCullum.

England is without a slew of pace bowlers due to injury, with Jofra Archer, Mark Wood, Chris Woakes, Olly Stone, Saqib Mahmood and Matt Fisher among those sidelined.

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That created space for Potts to fill, with the 23-year-old paceman picked ahead of Craig Overton.

Domestic form has proved crucial to Potts' elevation — he has taken 35 wickets in his first six county championship matches for Durham this year.

Jonny Bairstow was selected at No. 5, meaning in-form Yorkshire batter Harry Brook must wait for his test debut.

England has won just one of its last 17 tests and is playing the inaugural world champion in the longer format. (AP)

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)