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The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) revealed their men’s 16-player squad for the upcoming Test series against New Zealand on Tuesday. Led by Ben Stokes, the squad includes a mix of seasoned players and rising stars, setting up a promising line-up for the series. England will look to bounce back after a 2-1 series loss to Pakistan in their recent overseas outing, hoping to find success on New Zealand soil.
Jacob Bethell earns maiden Test call-up
Warwickshire all-rounder Jacob Bethell has received his first Test call-up, marking an important milestone in his young career. Bethell, who has shown promise with the bat, averages 25.44 in first-class cricket across 20 matches, with a highest score of 93, which he achieved against Nottinghamshire earlier in the 2024 season. Although he has yet to score a first-class century, Bethell impressed selectors with his impactful batting contributions in the limited-overs series against Australia in September. The middle-order batter showcased his skill and potential, solidifying his place for this Test series.
Jamie Smith to miss New Zealand tour
Notably absent from the squad is wicketkeeper-batter Jamie Smith. Smith has shown excellent form recently, but he will miss the upcoming New Zealand tour due to the birth of his first child. England will turn to other players to cover his role, with hopes that the squad’s depth will make up for Smith’s absence.
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England’s Test squad for the New Zealand tour
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
Test series schedule
The three-match Test series between the two teams is set to commence on November 28 at Hagley Oval in Christchurch. Following the opener, the action will shift to Basin Reserve in Wellington for the second Test. The series will conclude with the third and final Test starting on December 14 at Seddon Park in Hamilton.
