England have named all-rounder Jacob Bethell in their
squad for the three-Test series in New Zealand.
The 21-year-old Warwickshire player made his international
debut in the summer, playing two T20s and five one-day internationals against
Australia, but this is his first call-up to the Test squad.
Wicketkeeper Jamie Smith will miss the series to be at the
birth of his first child.
Jordan Cox is set to deputise and make his Test
debut, with left-hander Bethell adding additional batting depth.
Vice-captain Ollie Pope keeps his place in the squad despite
a difficult tour of Pakistan in which he averaged just 11, with a highest score
of 29, across the three Tests.
England also include three frontline spinners in Shoaib
Bashir, Jack Leach and Rehan Ahmed.
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England squad for Test series against New Zealand: 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.
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Bethell's inclusion is the clear standout given he has only
played 20 first-class matches since making his debut for Warwickshire in 2021.
A batting average of 25.44 with no centuries and only five
fifties in red-ball cricket is also likely to draw scepticism at his selection.
But the Barbados-born batting all-rounder is undoubtedly a
talented player and has made his name in the shorter formats.
He starred for Birmingham Phoenix in The Hundred and also
hit four half-centuries for Birmingham Bears in the Vitality Blast this summer
before showing glimpses of his ability in his first white-ball series for
England.
The series in New Zealand is England's last in the current
World Test Championship cycle, although Ben Stokes' side cannot qualify for the
final.
The first Test in Christchurch begins on 27 November with
matches in Wellington and Hamilton to follow in December.
As England finalise plans, so too are New Zealand.
It has been confirmed key batter Kane Williamson will not
join the Kiwis for the third Test against India, which starts in Mumbai on
Friday, as they take a "cautious approach" to his return from a groin
injury with the England series in mind.
"Kane continues to show good signs but isn't quite
ready to jump on a plane and join us," said New Zealand head coach Gary
Stead.
"While things are looking promising, we think the best
course of action is for him to stay in New Zealand and focus on the final part
of his rehabilitation so he'll be good to go for England."
England's batting now looking curious analysis
This was an unusual situation for England. Going back to
Jonny Bairstow, Ben Foakes, Dan Lawrence or Alex Lees would have raised
eyebrows, as would uncapped options like Ben McKinney and James Rew.
They have settled on another hunch in Bethell, who is
clearly talented but so inexperienced and with no real body of work in
professional cricket.
For all the talk of building a battery of fast bowlers, the
batting is now looking curious: Ollie Pope is out of form, Ben Stokes is
feeling his way back and Jordan Cox will get a debut in New Zealand.
Now, the next man in line does not have a first-class
hundred. If England are building to the Ashes, it is worth remembering their
only series win in Australia in the past 30-plus years was built on a stack of
runs.
Not everything is about the Ashes, either.
In the heavy loss in the deciding Test in Pakistan, England
drifted in the field. A team of young, unflappable characters is a positive,
but sometimes you need players to take the game by the scruff of the neck.
Bairstow, Stuart Broad, James Anderson and Ollie Robinson
would be happy to get in a battle. Without them, Stokes has looked short of a
few fighters.
It is admirable that Stokes and head coach Brendon McCullum
are revamping the age profile of the England squad, and county cricket is very
different to the international game so picking on attributes rather than record
has merits.
Still, there is a nagging doubt England may have a few too
many boys and not enough men.
New Zealand v England schedule and fixtures
22-23 November: New Zealand Cricket XI v England
XI, Sir John Davies Oval, Queenstown (22:00 GMT)
27 November-1 December: First Test, Hagley Oval,
Christchurch (22:00 GMT
5-9 December: Second Test, Basin Reserve,
Wellington (22:00 GMT)
13-17 December: Third Test, Seddon Park,
Hamilton (22:00 GMT)
