Bethell to bat at three on England Test debut

Jacob Bethell will bat at number three on his Test debut in England's series opener against New Zealand in Christchurch on Thursday.

Bethell, 21, plays after wicketkeeper Jordan Cox was ruled out with a broken thumb.

As a result, regular number three Ollie Pope takes the gloves and slides down the order to number six, with captain Ben Stokes at seven.

Warwickshire left-hander Bethell has impressed in white-ball cricket for England, but was a surprise selection for this tour.

He has never made a century in senior professional cricket and not batted higher than number four in his 20 first-class matches.

Bethell is the latest bold selection call from England, who arrive on the back of three defeats in their past four Tests following a 2-1 series loss in Pakistan last month.

The first Test at Hagley Oval (11:00 Thursday local time, 22:00 GMT Wednesday), begins a three-match series, with games in Wellington and Hamilton to follow.

Cox was due to make his own debut as regular keeper Jamie Smith is on paternity leave, but broke his right thumb in the nets during England's warm-up game in Queenstown over the weekend.

With no specialist reserve keeper in the tourists' squad, Pope will stand in behind the stumps, as he did during England's tour of this country in 2019, and in Pakistan two years ago. Durham's Ollie Robinson is expected to be called up in time for the second Test.

Brydon Carse, impressive in his first Test series in Pakistan, joins Chris Woakes and Gus Atkinson in the pace attack, with Shoaib Bashir retained as the frontline spinner.

Skipper Stokes, who struggled in Pakistan after returning from a hamstring injury, plays in the city of his birth, while Joe Root becomes the fourth Englishman to reach 150 Tests.

New Zealand pulled off one of the all-time great victories in their last Test series, a 3-0 win in India.

They have former captain Kane Williamson back from injury, and uncapped seamers Nathan Smith and Jacob Duffy vying to make a debut.

England XI for first Test: Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Jacob Bethell, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ollie Pope (wicketkeeper), Ben Stokes (captain), Chris Woakes, Gus Atkinson, Brydon Carse, Shoaib Bashir.