THERE are two Somerset County Cricket Club players in the 15-player squad named for England's two-match Test series against New Zealand next month.

Jack Leach and Craig Overton are both included, but there is no place for ex-Somerset players Dom Bess and Jos Buttler.

Taunton-born Buttler and his fellow multi-format players Moeen Ali, Jonny Bairstow, Sam Curran and Chris Woakes are rested after completing a quarantine period, following the cancellation of the Indian Premier League earlier this month.

Jofra Archer and Ben Stokes have not been considered for selection, either, with Archer nursing a right elbow injury and Stokes having fractured his left index finger.

Those absences mean opportunities for Somerset all-rounder Overton, Gloucestershire wicketkeeper-batsman James Bracey and Sussex seamer Ollie Robinson, with the latter two players being called up to the Test squad for the first time.

Overton last featured for England in a Test match in September 2019, against Australia, and he will be looking to add to his four Test caps.

The 27-year-old certainly deserves the opportunity, having taken 32 wickets in five matches this season, at an average of 13.96, and 62 wickets at 13.71 since the start of the 2020 campaign.

Leach, meanwhile, sees off his former club team-mate Bess to retain his position as England's front-line spin bowler.

If selected for the Test matches - June 2-6 at Lord’s, and June 10-14 at Edgbaston - Leach and Overton could come up against one of Somerset's overseas signings for the 2021 season, with Devon Conway being included in the New Zealand squad.

Regarding the selections, England men’s head coach Chris Silverwood said: “The summer of Test cricket will be fascinating.

"Playing the top two teams in the world, in New Zealand and India, is perfect preparation for us as we continue to improve and progress towards an Ashes series in Australia at the back end of the year.

“With several players not available through injury or being rested for the New Zealand series, it is an opportunity for us to reward those who have been on the fringes of England squads over the past 12 months.

“James Bracey and Ollie Robinson deserve their call ups to the Test squad.

"They have been consistent performers in the County Championship this season and over the past 18 months, have excelled for the Lions on the field and in the various camps they have been involved in.

“As for the players who have just come out of quarantine after the cancelled IPL, we felt it necessary for them to have an extended break," Silverwood added.

"We need them to recharge mentally. We will then take a view when they return to cricket.

"It will mean that they will get some competitive matches with their respective counties, either in the LV= Insurance County Championship or the Vitality Blast next month.

"We will work closely with each individual on when they are likely to play again.

“This is the start of our international summer and an exceptionally long winter, so we are mindful that we need the players ready both physically and mentally.

"Understanding players' needs are paramount in our planning and something that will continually develop across the year leading into the World Cup and Ashes campaigns.”

England men’s Test squad

Joe Root (Yorkshire, captain), James Anderson (Lancashire), James Bracey (Gloucestershire), Stuart Broad (Nottinghamshire), Rory Burns (Surrey), Zak Crawley (Kent), Ben Foakes (Surrey), Dan Lawrence (Essex), Jack Leach (Somerset), Craig Overton (Somerset), Ollie Pope (Surrey), Ollie Robinson (Sussex), Dom Sibley (Warwickshire), Olly Stone (Warwickshire), Mark Wood (Durham)