Jacob Bethell is set to bat at number three in his Test debut as England named its players for the first of the two-match series against New Zealand at Christchurch on Tuesday. The 21-year-old was called up for the game starting Thursday after wicketkeeper Jordan Cox broke his right thumb during a net session. Regular number three Ollie Pope replaces Cox with the gloves and drops down to bat at six, with captain Ben Stokes at seven in the batting order.
Bethell was the third man assigned to England batting in the Test, never before having batted higher than number four in first-class cricket, where he has recorded a batting average of 25.44. His international debut came only two months earlier in white ball matches against Australia and West Indies.
Joe Root remains at four, despite having made 262 when batting third in the first Test in Pakistan last month.
Chris Woakes, Gus Atkinson, Brydon Carse and all-rounder Stokes will form the pace attack on a Hagley Oval pitch that largely modifies that little boon offer to seamers in greenish looked wicket. Shoaib Bashir is the only spinner.
Though the starting XI is not yet announced by New Zealand though, they can call on their top batsman Kane Williamson back from injury lay-off from the earlier 3-0 Test series win against India.
England: Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Jacob Bethell, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ollie Pope, Ben Stokes (capt), Chris Woakes, Gus Atkinson, Brydon Carse, Shoaib Bashir.
New Zealand: Tom Latham (capt), Tom Blundell, Devon Conway, Jacob Duffy, Matt Henry, Daryl Mitchell, Will O’Rourke, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Nathan Smith, Tim Southee, Kane Williamson, Will Young.
