NEW DELHI: England on Tuesday named a 16-man squad for their upcoming Test tour of New Zealand, which includes the uncapped spin bowling all-rounder Jacob Bethell. However, wicketkeeper-batsman Jamie Smith has been left out due to paternity leave.
Despite his limited experience in first-class cricket, with only 20 matches under his belt and a modest batting average of 25.44, Bethell has been selected following his T20 and ODI debuts against Australia last month.
The Barbados-born player is the sole change to the Test squad that recently suffered a 2-1 series defeat in Pakistan.
Bethell is currently with the England white-ball squad in the Caribbean and will join the Test team along with Rehan Ahmed and Jordan Cox after their commitments against the West Indies conclude.
In the absence of Jamie Smith, who will miss the three-match series starting in Christchurch on November 28 to attend the birth of his first child, Essex wicketkeeper Cox is expected to make his Test debut.
England squad
Ben Stokes (captain), Rehan Ahmed, Gus Atkinson, Shoaib Bashir, Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook, Brydon Carse, Jordan Cox (wkt), Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Jack Leach, Ollie Pope, Matthew Potts, Joe Root, Olly Stone, Chris Woakes
