NZ vs Eng – Bethell handed first Test call-up for England tour of New Zealand with Smith on paternity leave
Jacob Bethell, the Warwickshire batting allrounder, has been drafted into England’s Test squad for next month’s tour of New Zealand, as a replacement for Jamie Smith, who will miss the entire trip on paternity leave.
Bethell, who turned 21 earlier this week, made a solid impression during his white-ball debuts against Australia in September, including a match winning 44 from 24 balls in the second T20I in Cardiff. However, he has played just 20 County Chmapionship games in his career, and has yet to make a first-class century.
Bethell’s inclusion is the only change to the 16-man squad that slipped to a 2-1 series defeat in Pakistan last week. Jordan Cox, who was an unused batting reserve before being drafted into the white-ball squad in the Caribbean, is set to make his Test debut standing in for Smith as wicketkeeper.
England Test squad to tour New Zealand: Ben Stokes (capt), Rehan Ahmed, Gus Atkinson, Shoaib Bashir, Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook, Brydon Carse, Jordan Cox, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Jack Leach, Ollie Pope, Matthew Potts, Joe Root, Olly Stone, Chris Woakes
