Sarah Taylor: Former wicket-keeper appointed as England fielding coach

Taylor’s chance comes with Carl Hopkinson, who returned to the England set-up earlier this year in white-ball cricket, currently with Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League.

Key indicated that he and Taylor will continue to work with the team in the future.

Speaking to BBC Sport last summer, Taylor said: “I’m still not a celebrity, I just want to be good at my job. That’s how I want to work as a coach.

“I like to be consistent but without focus. I want to see how far I can go and work with the best players I can.”

The first Test against New Zealand begins at Lord’s on June 4 and is England’s first in the format since their thrilling Ashes defeat.

Amid accusations that preparations have been too slow, England did not have a coach on staff in Australia, something that came under heavy scrutiny when they dropped balls at crucial times.

That campaign, too Discussion about excessive alcohol consumptionThe professionalism of the team’s set-up, their tactical approach and the future of both Key and coach Brendon McCullum have come into question.

The curfew, introduced for the white-ball tour of Sri Lanka in January, will remain in place for the New Zealand series.

McCullum, who has been rested since the end of the T20 World Cup in March, will be with the first Test squad from May 25 when they meet for a three-day training camp in Loughborough.

It includes bowler Ollie Robinson and the uncapped trio of James Rew, Emilio Gay and Sonny Baker.

Former New Zealand bowler Tim South will not be in the camp but will return to coach his former side’s bowling series.

Asked what would change at the event if he and McCullum stayed in their posts, Key said: “We want the players to come out and play their best game.”

“That doesn’t mean there’s one way to play, where you go out and shoot.

I spoke to Emilio Gay this morning and said, ‘Go and play your best game, don’t worry about anything else.’

“Practice how you take that bowling attack at Lord’s, figure out the conditions and the best way to score. It’s the same for everyone else.

“You don’t want to see what made Harry Brooke the number one change in the world. You just want him to check.”