- Bold call-up for 21-year-old yet to score first-class century
- Ollie Pope to keep wicket after Jordan Cox’s injury blow
Jacob Bethell, the 21-year-old Barbados-born all-rounder, will make his Test debut for England in Christchurch and is slated to bat at No 3.
Although the selection has been forced by an injury to Jordan Cox – with Ollie Pope to keep wicket in the first Test against New Zealand – it still represents England’s boldest pick under Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum. Bethell, a stylish left-hander who plays for Warwickshire, is yet to score a century at first-class level and will be the first batter to make his England debut without doing so since Mike Gatting in 1978.
Written by Ali Martin at Hagley Oval
This news first appeared on https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2024/nov/25/england-cricket-jacob-bethell-test-debut-against-new-zealand under the title “England to hand Jacob Bethell his Test debut at No 3 in New Zealand opener”. Bolchha Nepal is not responsible or affiliated towards the opinion expressed in this news article.
