In a notable development for English cricket, Warwickshire’s promising all-rounder Jacob Bethell has received his maiden Test call-up, joining England’s squad for their upcoming tour of New Zealand. The 21-year-old will replace Jamie Smith, who has withdrawn from the tour on paternity leave.
Jacob Bethell’s maiden England call-up
Bethell’s elevation to the Test squad comes on the heels of his impressive white-ball performances against Australia in September, where he notably contributed a match-winning 44 off 24 balls in the second T20I at Cardiff. Despite his limited first-class experience—just 20 County Championship appearances without a century—Bethell’s selection aligns with England’s contemporary approach to talent identification.
The squad adjustment will also see Jordan Cox, previously an unused batting reserve who later joined the white-ball squad in the Caribbean, poised to make his Test debut as wicketkeeper in Smith’s absence. This change comes as England looks to bounce back from their recent 2-1 series defeat in Pakistan.
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“Test cricket has always been my dream,” Jacob Bethell
Speaking at last month’s PCA Awards in London, where he was runner-up to Smith for the Young Player of the Year award, Bethell had expressed his ambition to establish himself as an all-formats player. “Test cricket has always been my dream,” he stated. “I know it’s taken a different shape in the last three years but, definitely, that’s still my dream, to play Test cricket for England.”
Regarding his potential role in the Test side, Bethell maintains a flexible outlook. Despite making a career-best 93 against Nottinghamshire in April batting at No. 6, he sees himself as adaptable across the batting order. “I haven’t really found a place where I’ve gone, ‘right, this feels like home in terms of a place in the batting order,‘” he explained, suggesting he could slot in anywhere from opener to No. 7.
England squad for 3 Tests vs New Zealand
Ben Stokes (capt), 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
New Zealand vs England Tests schedule
| Match | Venue | Start Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1st Test | Hagley Oval, Christchurch | November 28, 2024 |
| 2nd Test | Basin Reserve, Wellington | December 6, 2024 |
| 3rd Test | Seddon Park, Hamilton | December 14, 2024 |
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