Martin Johnson handed Bath lock Steve Borthwick the England captaincy today but warned him he faces a formidable challenge in New Zealand this summer.

Borthwick, who led England against Italy in the Six Nations and joins Saracens after the tour, takes over from Phil Vickery, who is still recovering from a knee injury and misses next month's two-Test mission.

This is Johnson's first squad since taking over as team manager from Brian Ashton, and the World Cup winner has recognised the strides London Irish and Harlequins have made this season. Irish have five players in the 32-strong squad, Quins supply four and London Wasps seven.

Jonny Wilkinson (shoulder), Josh Lewsey (heel), Harry Ellis (knee), Simon Shaw (various injuries), James Simpson-Daniel (shoulder), Louis Deacon (back), Shane Geraghty (shoulder), Vickery (knee) and Lewis Moody (ankle) are all ruled out. And, in all, Johnson has omitted 11 of Ashton's Six Nations squad named in January.

With two games still to go in the English season, there could be more problems to come.

The big losers are Andy Gomarsall, Lesley Vainikolo, Iain Balshaw, Mark Cueto, Mark Regan and George Chuter, while there are six uncapped players including the Irish trio of Topsy Ojo, David Paice and Nick Kennedy, plus Quins scrum-half Danny Care.

Johnson said: "With Phil Vickery not available, even though he is trying to get back before the end of the season, Steve Borthwick was the obvious choice to lead the tour. And, with men like Mike Tindall, there is a lot of leadership in the squad.

"There are some very exciting young players and this is as tough a tour as you could go on. I know there has been talk about the players who have left New Zealand to play abroad since the World Cup, but there never has been a bad All Blacks side.

"The All Blacks will still be formidable. For England it is all about our performance and we will need to be as near to our potential as possible."

Johnson has already had a long conversation with Borthwick about what he wants to see the team produce on tour under the control of elite rugby director Rob Andrew.

The new manager will be at home for the birth of his second child and said: "I would love to be out there. Circumstances mean I cannot, but I will be in constant touch with the guys. I had a very encouraging chat with Steve and was delighted to hear what he wanted to achieve by the end of this tour. .

"I will talk to the players in the buildup to the 1 June match with the Barbarians but there won't be any Churchillian speeches.

"Those sort of speeches, in my opinion, are overrated and I am happy that the messages will get through about what is needed in New Zealand.

"I am hoping the guys we are sending out exceed our expectations."

Quins full-back Mike Brown is the only specialist in his position, with utility back Mathew Tait as an alternative. The absence of Wasps lock Shaw gives Nick Kennedy, of Irish, and Tom Palmer, of Wasps, an opportunity to stake their claims, although Borthwick is a certainty and Ben Kay vastly experienced in that role.

The hooking position offers the chance for Paice and Northampton's Dylan Hartley to prove they are Test players. And, with Wilkinson out, the back division will be built around Wasps star Danny Cipriani.

Mike Tindall and Olly Barkley are likely to fill the midfield berths. Dave Strettle and Paul Sackey are the leading wings and it will be either Care or Richard Wigglesworth at scrum-half.

Up front, Tom Rees and Michael Lipman will battle for the No7 shirt.

TOUR OF DUTY
FORWARDS
S Borthwick (Bath, capt), T Croft (Leics) N Easter (Quins), D Hartley (N'hampton), J Haskell (Wasps), J Hobson (Bristol), B Kay (Leics), N Kennedy (L Irish), M Lipman (Bath), L Mears (Bath), L Narraway (Gloucs), D Paice (L Irish), T Palmer (Wasps), T Payne (Wasps), T Rees (Wasps), A Sheridan (Sale), M Stevens (Bath), J Worsley (Wasps)

BACKS
O Barkley (Bath), M Brown (Quins), D Care (Quins), D Cipriani (Wasps), T Flood (Newc), C Hodgson (Sale), J Noon (Newc), T Ojo (L Irish), P Richards (L Irish), P Sackey (Wasps), D Strettle (Quins), M Tait (Newc), M Tindall (Gloucs), R Wigglesworth (Sale)