Will Young added to New Zealand squad for England Tests

Following Kane Williamson's retirement midway through the series, Will Young has been added to New Zealand's squad for the remaining two Tests against England.

Before the second Test at The Oval, which begins on June 17, Young will arrive in the UK on June 14 and begin training with the team on Monday.

In December 2025, the 33-year-old played his last Test, but he was not selected for the England tour. Young has only appeared in 23 Tests since making his debut in December 2020. He has done well for himself batting in the top three, despite never having a long run in the team.

During New Zealand's historic 3-0 victory over India in India in 2024, one of his most notable accomplishments occurred. In the absence of Kane Williamson, he batted at No. 3 and scored 244 runs in six innings, navigating India's spinners on difficult surfaces with remarkable ease. He was named Player of the Series.

Williamson stated that before leaving, he would remain with the team for "a little bit."

Williamson had stated during his retirement press conference, "I'll be around for a little bit but yeah, giving the team a bit of space." "It's fragile. In the team it's news to some of them and to a lot of them and it's a change, so we'll just cross that bridge over the next few days.

"I've been a part of the furniture for quite some time, and there are many leaders in that group. I remember the day when other leaders in our team left, and there are steps to take, and I think stepping away allows that as well." "There's growth there too."