The batting all-rounder Jacob Bethell is in their squad for the three-match Test series against New Zealand while wk-batter Jamie Smith will be the only missing player from the England squad from the Pakistan tour.
Smith has opted out of the series to be with his family for the birth of his first child. “Wicketkeeper-batter Jamie Smith will miss the tour as he takes paternity leave for the birth of his first child, with Cox in line to take on wicketkeeping duties and the opportunity of winning his first Test cap,” ECB said in a statement.
Bethell made his debut for the Three Lions in the T20I series against Australia after which he played all five ODIs as well. Bethell has scored 738 runs at an average of 25.44 with five half-centuries and a top score of 93 to his name.
The southpaw is currently with the England white-ball team and will join the Test team after the series against the West Indies.
Next Test stop: New Zealand ✈
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Jordon Cox is in line to make his debut for England in red-ball cricket. England will be looking to get back after a 2-1 defeat against Pakistan.
“The squad includes one change from the recent series in Pakistan, with Warwickshire’s batting all-rounder Jacob Bethell called up for his first inclusion in a Test squad.”
“The 21-year-old, an attacking left-handed batter and slow left-arm orthodox bowler, made his England white-ball debut this summer in both IT20 and ODI formats against Australia.”
“Bethell is currently with the England white-ball squad in the Caribbean and, along with Rehan Ahmed and Jordan Cox, will join the Test team following their commitments against the West Indies,” the statement added.
They will be playing also face New Zealand Cricket Xl in a two-day practice match, starting November 23 at the Sir John Davies Oval in Queenstown. England are placed sixth in the table in the 2023-25 WTC points table. The first match of the test series will begin on November 29 at Hagley Oval.
England Squad for New Zealand tour: Ben Stokes (captain), Rehan Ahmed, Gus Atkinson, Shoaib Bashir, Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook, Bryson Carse, Jordan Cox, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Jack Leach, Ollie Pope, Matthew Potts, Joe Root, Olly Stone, Chris Woakes
