Kolkata : England Cricket Board (ECB ) has announced squad for 3 match Test series against New Zealand starting from November 28 to December 14.
In form keeper Batter Jamie Smith will miss this series due to birth of his child. In his absence, Jordan Cox will keep wickets , along with another substitute Jacob Bethell. Cox, Bethell and Rehan Ahmed are the 3 players who’re featuring in both West Indies and New Zealand Test Series.
“The England Men’s selection panel has named a 16-player squad for the three-match Test tour of New Zealand, scheduled for November and December. The squad includes one change from the recent series in Pakistan, with Warwickshire’s batting all-rounder Jacob Bethell called up for his first inclusion in a Test squad,” ECB said in a press release.
“The 21-year-old, an attacking left-handed batter and slow left-arm orthodox bowler, made his England white-ball debut this summer in both IT20 and ODI formats against Australia. Bethell is currently with the England white-ball squad in the Caribbean and, along with Rehan Ahmed and Jordan Cox, will join the Test team following their commitments against the West Indies”.
“Wicketkeeper-batter Jamie Smith will miss the tour as he takes paternity leave for the birth of his first child, with Cox in line to take on wicketkeeping duties and the opportunity of winning his first Test cap,” the release added.
Skipper Ben Stokes will be available from the start of the series, veteran Joe Root, Cox, Bethell, Harry Brook, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope form the strong middle order.
All rounder Chris Woakes will be a pillar in both Bowling and Batting departments.
The strong Bowling department comprises pacers – Gus Atkinson, Woakes, Matthew Potts, Olly Stone, Brydon Carse. Rehan Ahmed, Jack Leach and Shoaib Bashir form the spin trio.
England is already out of the race to secure a place in the World Test Championship (WTC) 2025 final, which is scheduled to take place at the Lord’s in June next year.
England’s squad for Test series against New Zealand: Ben Stokes (C), 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.
