England vs New Zealand: Jacob Bethell Named in Test Squad as Jamie Smith Misses Series; Jordan Cox Set to Keep Wicket

England has announced the inclusion of Warwickshire all-rounder Jacob Bethell in their squad for the upcoming three-Test series against New Zealand. Bethell steps in as batting cover following Jamie Smith’s absence, who is missing the tour due to the birth of his first child. Alongside him, Jordan Cox has been designated as the wicketkeeper for the series starting on November 28 in Christchurch.

At just 21 years old, Bethell has not yet made a mark in the Test arena, averaging 25.44 across 20 first-class matches, with a personal best score of 93 achieved against Nottinghamshire earlier in the season. Despite not having registered a century, he showcased his potential during the limited-overs series against Australia in September, where he had several noteworthy performances. Bethell also demonstrated his explosive batting capabilities in the Vitality Blast, scoring a rapid fifty off just 15 balls for the Birmingham Bears.

ngland head coach Brendon McCullum expressed confidence in Cox's abilities, remarking, "New Zealand is a comfortable place to wicket-keep, and it would be great to have a look at Cox. His keeping is solid; he’s annoyingly good at everything he does." His selection may signal a shift in the team dynamics, potentially marking the end of the road for established wicketkeepers Jonny Bairstow and Ben Foakes, both of whom were dropped after a disappointing series against India last winter.

Vice-captain Ollie Pope retains his position despite a challenging series in Pakistan, where he averaged just 11 with a highest score of 29. McCullum has backed Pope, stating, "We know when Popey gets in, he gets big scores. It is not an easy place to bat at No 3... I expect him to bounce back in New Zealand." The England squad will undergo a warm-up match against a New Zealand Cricket XI from November 23-24 before the first Test.

England is looking to break a long-standing drought, as they have not won a Test series in New Zealand since 2008. New Zealand comes into the series with momentum, having recently made history as the first away team to win a Test series in India since 2012. They previously hosted England earlier this year, where the series ended in a 1-1 draw.

As the series approaches, all eyes will be on Bethell and Cox to see how they perform on this significant stage for English cricket.