Jacob Bethell to Bat at Three in England’s Series Opener

Jacob Bethell will make his Test debut for England in their series opener against New Zealand in Christchurch on Thursday, batting at number three. The 21-year-old left-hander replaces wicketkeeper Jordan Cox, who suffered a broken thumb. As a result, Ollie Pope normally the number three will move to number six with captain Ben Stokes batting at seven. Bethell known for his white-ball performances with England was a surprise selection for the tour but has impressed in limited-overs cricket.

Joe Root, England’s all-time leading Test run-scorer expressed excitement about Bethell’s potential, noting that his game suits Test cricket. Root, who has known Bethell’s family for years praised his development from a young talent to a promising player in Warwickshire’s squad. Bethell’s rise gained further momentum when he secured his first Indian Premier League contract with Royal Challengers Bangalore.

Although Jacob Bethell has yet to score a century in senior professional cricket and has only batted up to number four in his 20 first-class matches, he now has a chance to make a significant impact in Test cricket. Root views this as a fresh start for Bethell to showcase his talent and relishes the challenge ahead. The match also marks a challenging period for England, who are coming off a 2-1 loss in Pakistan.

Cox’s injury meant Pope would take over as wicketkeeper in the absence of regular keeper Jamie Smith, who is on paternity leave. England’s squad includes Brydon Carse, Chris Woakes and Gus Atkinson in the pace attack with Shoaib Bashir as the frontline spinner. The series, contested for the new Crowe-Thorpe Trophy honors the late New Zealand legend Martin Crowe and England’s Graham Thorpe.