New England manager Martin Johnson has named Bath lock Steve Borthwick as captain for next month's two-Test tour of New Zealand.

The 28-year-old will lead the side in the absence of regular skipper Phil Vickery, who has been deemed unfit to tour after tearing a knee ligament.

The 32-man senior squad includes six uncapped players.

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He captained the side in the victory over Italy when Vickery was ill and Johnson said he was the "obvious" choice to lead England in New Zealand.

"Steve is very well respected among the squad, an established international player and a very good leader," said Johnson. "He is a model player the way he approaches the game and was a natural choice to lead the squad.

"But lots of other guys have a leadership influence on the team. I think people always put too much emphasis on who is the captain."

Gloucester backs Iain Balshaw and Lesley Vainikolo who both featured for England during this year's Six Nations, have been left out.

"I spoke to Iain, he was disappointed not to go but he took it very well," said Johnson. "We decided to take Mike Brown who we feel is ahead of him at the moment."

Wasps lock Simon Shaw has been left at home so he can recover from what Johnson calls "a number of medical issues".

"We felt it was best if he had a good off season and got himself in the best shape for another long season next year."

Wasps wing Paul Sackey is named in the party despite hurting his knee against Leeds on Saturday, and is undergoing "intensive rehab" before undergoing a scan to determine any damage.

Newcastle centre Toby Flood, who is leaving the Falcons at the end of the season, will travel to New Zealand despite carrying an ankle injury.

Johnson has also decided to recall Bath fly-half Olly Barkley, Harlequins wing David Strettle, London Irish scrum-half Peter Richards, Wasps lock Tom Palmer, Harlequins full-back Mike Brown and Wasps flanker Joe Worsley.

Barkley is back in the squad after missing the Six Nations because of an impending court case.

He was charged with assaulting a fellow guest at a wedding although the charge was subsequently dropped.

Worsley, who has been capped 65 times, missed the entire Six Nations but will battle it out for a starting position in a competitive back-row.

Brown is the only out-and-out full-back named in the party, although Johnson said that Mathew Tait would act as cover for that position.

Newcastle fly-half Jonny Wilkinson, Leicester flanker Lewis Moody and Tigers lock Louis Deacon were not available for selection because of injury.

Wilkinson is to undergo shoulder surgery shortly to repair a cartilage tear, while Moody is still recovering from the Achilles injury sustained in the opening match of the Six Nations.

Deacon is also unavailable with a back injury that has kept him out for the past month.

England depart for New Zealand on Monday, 2 June, the day after they play the Barbarians at Twickenham.

They take on the All Blacks in Auckland on 14 June, with a second Test in Christchurch the following Saturday, 21 June.

With Johnson staying at home to be with his pregnant wife Kay, Andrew will head up a tour management party including coaches John Wells (forwards), Mike Ford (defence), Graham Rowntree (scrummaging) and Jon Callard (kicking).

More to follow.

England squad
Backs: M Brown (Harlequins), P Sackey (Wasps), D Strettle (Harlequins), T Ojo (London Irish), M Tait (Newcastle), M Tindall (Gloucester), J Noon (Newcastle), T Flood (Newcastle), O Barkley (Bath), D Cipriani (Wasps), C Hodgson (Sale Sharks), R Wigglesworth (Sale Sharks), P Richards (London Irish), D Care (Harlequins).
Forwards: A Sheridan (Sale Sharks), T Payne (Wasps), M Stevens (Bath), J Hobson (Bristol), L Mears (Bath), D Hartley (Northampton), D Paice (London Irish), S Borthwick (Bath, capt), B Kay (Leicester), N Kennedy (London Irish), T Palmer (Wasps), T Croft (Leicester), J Haskell (Wasps), J Worsley (Wasps), M Lipman (Bath), T Rees (Wasps), N Easter (Harlequins), L Narraway (Gloucester).

Players not selected because of injury: J Lewsey (Wasps),

England Saxons squad for Churchill Cup in USA and Canada:
Backs: N Abendanon (Bath), A Allen (Gloucester), M Banahan (Bath), L Dickson (Newcastle), B Foden (Sale Sharks), P Hodgson (London Irish), A Jarvis (Harlequins), R Lamb (Gloucester), U Monye (Harlequins), O Smith (Leicester), T Varndell (Leicester), D Waldouck (Wasps).
Forwards: S Armitage (London Irish), R Blaze (Leicester), A Brown (Gloucester), G Chuter (Leicester), A Clarke (Bristol), J Crane (Leicester), J Forster (Gloucester), T Guest (Harlequins), C Jones (Sale Sharks), N Lloyd (Saracens), C Robshaw (Harlequins), W Skinner (Harlequins, capt), G Skivington (Wasps), A Titterrell (Gloucester), R Webber (Wasps), D Wilson (Newcastle).

(BBC)

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