LONDON, CMC – Barbadian all-rounder Jacob Bethell has been included in England’s Test squad to face New Zealand next month as a replacement for Jamie Smith.
Bethell, who celebrated his 21st birthday earlier this week, was drafted into the squad as cover. Smith, who is on paternity leave, will miss the entire tour.
The former student of Harrison College 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.
Bethell has been named in the Test squad despite playing just 20 County Championship games and has yet to make a first-class century.
His inclusion is the only change to the 16-man squad that lost the series 2-1 in Pakistan last week.
Jordan Cox, an unused batting reserve before being drafted into the white-ball squad in the Caribbean, is set to make his Test debut for Smith as a wicketkeeper.
The series will begin at Hagley Oval, Christ Church, on Thursday. The next two Tests will be at Wellington on December 6 and Hamilton on December 14.
SQUAD
ENGLAND: Ben Stokes (captain), 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.
CMC rb/24
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