Jacob Bethell is set to make his debut in Christchurch test
Jacob Bethell will make his debut for England in the first Test of the upcoming three-match series against New Zealand, starting November 28 in Christchurch.
The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) announced the playing XI for the match on Tuesday (November 26), with the young all-rounder set to bat at No. 3.
This reshuffle in the batting order sees Ollie Pope moved to No. 6.
Bethell, who turned 21 last month, has never batted at No. 3 in his first-class career.
The Warwickshire player has scored 738 runs in 20 matches at an average of 25.44 and has also taken seven wickets.
He made his T20I and ODI debuts for England after a strong showing in the Hundred, where he scored 165 runs in seven matches for Birmingham Phoenix.
Meanwhile, Pope will take the gloves after Jordan Cox, who was initially set to debut, broke his thumb in a net session in Queenstown, ruling him out of the series.
Cox had been called up to replace regular wicketkeeper-batter Jamie Smith, who is on paternity leave.
It’s a crucial series for Pope, who struggled in Pakistan, scoring only 55 runs in three matches.
His poor form extended to England’s home series against Sri Lanka in August and September, where, despite a score of 154 in the third Test, he managed just 37 runs across his other five innings in the series.
The rest of the batting order remains largely unchanged, with Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley set to open, Joe Root at No. 4, and Harry Brook at No. 5.
Ben Stokes will bat at No. 7, and the visitors will have a deep batting lineup, extending to No. 10.
England have named three pacers – Chris Woakes, Gus Atkinson, and Brydon Carse – with Shoaib Bashir being the lone spinner, preferred ahead of Jack Leach, for the Hagley Oval Test.
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