The 21-year-old all-rounder Jacob Bethell is set to make his test debut on the first test of England’s tour of New Zealand in 2024.
With an electrifying clash set to begin on November 28, the ECB has announced the playing 11 for the Christchurch test. The all-rounder is slated to bat at no.3, while Ollie Pope has been named at no. 6.
Bethell who received maiden call-up for the England squad for New Zealand tests, plays for Warwickshire and has scored 738 runs in 20 domestic matches at an average of 25.44 and also picked seven wickets in his FC career.
He also made his T20I and ODI debut for England after a noteworthy campaign in The Hundred where he scored 165 runs in 7 games for Birmingham Phoenix.
Pope will be keeping wickets after Jordan Cox was ruled out due to broken thumb during a net session in Queenstown. Cox had earlier come in for regular Wk-batter Jamie Smith who is on Paternity leave.
✅ Test debutant
✅ A change at No. 3Our XI for the first Test against New Zealand in Christchurch is here 👇
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) November 25, 2024
Pope scored 154 runs in the third test, he managed only 37 runs in his remaining five innings across the three match series.
Meanwhile Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley set to open while Joe Root will bat at No.4 and Harry Brook at No.5 while Ben Stokes has been named at No.7.
Speaking about Jacob, Root said, “I love the look of him as a player. I’ve known Jacob and his family a long time and it’s been lovely to watch him grow up as a player coming through in Barbados then at Warwickshire. What he’s done in the white-ball stuff more recently has been exceptional.”
“He’s full of confidence, he’s got great ability and a really well rounded game. He’s a mature head on young shoulders and I think he has all the components to set him up nicely to be successful in this format and at this level.”
“I’m sure he’ll enjoy every aspect of the week, I’m really looking forward to watching him do his stuff.
“If you look at the way he sets up I think it suits that (batting at three), especially here with the little bit of extra bounce and carry.”
“He plays very well square of the wicket and if he gets in on a wicket like that he could be very destructive.”
“It’s a really exciting opportunity and prospect for us to see a young player coming in hopefully doing something really special at the start of his career.”
On the other hand, England have named three pacers, Chris Woakes, Gus Atkinson and Brydon Carse while Shoaib Bashir will be the only spinner to take the field.
The first match of the New Zealand tests will begin on November 28 at Hagley Oval.
England Playing XI: Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Jacob Bethell, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ollie Pope (wk), Ben Stokes (C), Chris Woakes, Gus Atkinson, Brydon Carse, Shoaib Bashir
