England announce playing XI for first Test against New Zealand

LONDON: The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has announced the playing XI for the first Test of their three-match series against New Zealand, starting November 28 in Christchurch.

The squad features 21-year-old Warwickshire batter Jacob Bethell, who is set to make his Test debut. Bethell will bat at number three, a position he has never taken up in first-class cricket. This change comes after Jordan Cox suffered a thumb injury during practice on Sunday, forcing England to adjust their batting order.

Despite shining with three half-centuries in England’s recent white-ball series against the West Indies, Bethell has a modest first-class record. He has scored 738 runs across 30 innings at an average of 25.44, with only five half-centuries. Remarkably, he becomes the first specialist batter to debut for England in Tests without a first-class century since Mike Gatting in 1978.

Joe Root, England’s star batter, will be earning his 150th Test cap in this match. Speaking about Bethell’s inclusion, Root shared his confidence in the young batter’s ability, even though Root was not considered for the number three spot himself.

“I’ve known Jacob and his family for a long time,” Root said. “He’s a talented player with a mature approach, and his recent white-ball performances were excellent. While he’s new to this role, I think his skillset suits batting at number three, especially with the extra bounce here. It’s an exciting opportunity for him, and I’m looking forward to seeing him thrive.”

Interestingly, Root and Bethell have a personal connection. Their fathers once played together at Sheffield Collegiate Cricket Club, deepening the sense of camaraderie.

England’s lineup for the first Test includes:

• Zak Crawley
• Ben Duckett
• Jacob Bethell
• Joe Root
• Harry Brook
• Ollie Pope (wk)
• Ben Stokes (c)
• Chris Woakes
• Gus Atkinson
• Brydon Carse
• Shoaib Bashir

The match runs from November 28 to December 2.