England's embarrassing Joe Root blunder in team announcement

Amid a wider crisis in English cricket, the England Cricket Board has had to brush of an embarrassing mistake in which they named Joe Root as captain ahead of their Test series against New Zealand.

The mere announcement of the team itself was already subject to a minor controversy, with the ECB having announced a plan whereby fans could sign up for 'exclusive access' to the team announcements.

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That move had already been met with heavy scepticism from fans and media, critcism which only intensified when the error of making Root captain was noticed.

It was rectified very quickly, but it didn't escape the attention of the same committed fans who had signed up to get the team list the moment it was revealed - prompting even more jokes at the ECB's expense.

Root stepped down as England's Test captain earlier this year after the team's disastrous tour of the Carribean, with all-rounder Ben Stokes stepping into the role.

The error came just a day after controversial ECB chief executive Tom Harrison announced he would be stepping down.

His departure is the latest move in a complete overhaul of senior leadership within the ECB, which has already either removed or replaced their Test head coach, assistant coach, Test captain and director of cricket.

The team access sign-up was a marketing ploy that earned criticism from English tabloid The Telegraph, which questioned whether it was in the best interests of allowing the whole country unfettered access to basics of the team.

With fans already unhappy with the direction English cricket has taken over the last 12 months, the gaffe didn't go down well on social media.

England last week named former New Zealand star Brendon McCullum as their new head coach, with the former wicketkeeper-batsman set to face his countrymen first up in early June.

Uncapped duo Harry Brook and Matthew Potts have been called up for the first Test of England's new era, but leg-spinner Matt Parkinson must once again wait for his chance.

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Yorkshire batter Brook, who made his Twenty20 debut in January, has been rewarded for a prolific start to the County Championship season during which he has raced to the top of the Division One run-scoring charts with three centuries and an average of 151.60.

Potts plies his trade with Durham in the second tier, but with a raft of injuries in the fast-bowling ranks his 35 wickets at 18.57 represented an irresistible case.

He will join a bowling unit boosted by the return of the vastly experienced James Anderson and Stuart Broad, who were controversially dropped after this winter's Ashes.

While the presence of two young, in-form talents and the welcome restoration of the two leading wicket-takers in England's history represents cause for optimism there may also be some frustration that the attack-minded pairing of Stokes and McCullum have not drafted in Parkinson.

The Lancashire wrist-spinner is renowned for his ability to produce unplayable deliveries and, after a couple of years on the fringes of the red-ball side, seemed to be close to a breakthrough.

He is the leading spinner in the country this term, despite bowling on largely unhelpful pitches, but even 23 scalps in four outings has not been enough.

Elsewhere, England have kept faith with Alex Lees and Zak Crawley, the opening pair from the recent West Indies tour, and retained wicketkeeper Ben Foakes for what should be his first home Test.

Jonny Bairstow also holds his place despite his ongoing involvement in the Indian Premier League and a late decision on his readiness could be required.

Director of men's crickt Rob Key, who also involved performance director Mo Bobat, head scout James Taylor and player identification lead David Court in selection, said: "This is the start of a new era for our Test team under the stewardship of Ben and Brendon.

"With a blend of youth and experience, we have selected an exciting squad that can compete with New Zealand in next month's Test series.

"We have rewarded players in Harry Brook and Matty Potts who have had outstanding starts to the county season, and they deserve the opportunity to stake a claim at this level."

With AAP

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