The 21-year-old Warwickshire batsman is handed a surprise test debut against New Zealand as England adjusts their lineup due to injury.
Jacob Bethell will make his Test debut for England in the opening match of their series against New Zealand in Christchurch this Thursday, with the 21-year-old set to bat at number three. Bethell’s call-up comes after wicketkeeper Jordan Cox was ruled out with a broken thumb, prompting changes to England’s batting order.
As a result, Ollie Pope, who is usually the number three, will take over behind the stumps as wicketkeeper and drop down to number six in the batting order. England captain Ben Stokes will move to number seven, completing the reshuffled lineup.
Bethell’s selection is a notable surprise, as he has yet to play in a Test match but has made a strong impression in white-ball formats. The left-hander has played eight One-Day Internationals and seven T20s for England. His consistent performances in domestic cricket, particularly for Warwickshire, and in the T20 circuit helped earn him the call-up, and his inclusion adds a fresh dynamic to the England squad.
Joe Root, England’s all-time leading Test runscorer, spoke highly of Bethell’s potential ahead of the debut, saying: “The way his game sets up suits Test cricket. I’m really looking forward to watching him go out there and play. It’s a really exciting time for him.” Root also revealed his long-standing relationship with Bethell, as both players’ fathers played club cricket together for Sheffield Collegiate. “I’ve known him and his family for a long time. I saw him play when he was 11 or 12 years old, and I could tell then he was already a very accomplished player.”
Despite being relatively new to senior professional cricket, Bethell has caught attention for his performances in limited-overs formats. His first Indian Premier League (IPL) contract with Royal Challengers Bangalore has further highlighted his growing reputation. However, the Warwickshire batsman has not yet scored a century in senior cricket and has never batted higher than number four in his 20 first-class matches, adding an element of intrigue to his selection at number three.
Root remained optimistic, stating that Bethell’s style of play suits Test cricket well, despite his lack of experience at the top of the order. “There are a number of players whose game is better suited for Test cricket than first-class cricket, Michael Vaughan being a great example of that,” Root said. “This is a great opportunity for him, a blank canvas, in a position where he can really influence the game. I expect him to enjoy it and do just that.”
Bethell’s inclusion is part of a broader strategy by England to inject new blood into the squad following a challenging run of results. The team enters the series against New Zealand with three losses in their last four Tests, including a 2-1 defeat in Pakistan last month. England will be hoping the young blood in their ranks can provide the spark they need as they begin their three-match series at Hagley Oval.
The series opener will start on Thursday at 11:00 local time (22:00 GMT on Wednesday), with the second and third Tests scheduled for Wellington and Hamilton
