UK Youngster Jacob Bethell Makes England Test Debut Against New Zealand

Christchurch, November 28 - English cricketer Jacob Bethell is set to make his Test debut in the opening match of a three-match series against New Zealand at the Hagley Oval on Thursday.

The 21-year-old Warwickshire batter will come in at number three in the England line-up, replacing Ben Duckett. This is a surprise selection for the series initially, given Bethell has not yet scored a Test hundred and has a career average of 25.44 in first-class cricket.

However, Bethell's impressive performances in the white-ball format have caught the eye of selectors. He made his T20 International debut at the end of the summer with two fifties in seven games and a half-century in eight One-Day Internationals.

Bethell joined Royal Challengers Bangalore for £246,000 as part of the Indian Premier League auction on Monday, and will now join fellow England team-mates Phil Salt and Liam Livingstone at the franchise for his maiden IPL campaign.

England's Test tour of New Zealand begins with a crucial match against the Black Caps in Christchurch. The visitors are expected to face a tough challenge, but the presence of Bethell adds depth to their batting line-up.

In other news related to England's Test squad, Ollie Pope will keep wicket for England in place of Jordan Cox, who fractured his right thumb during practice last weekend. Pope, who plays at number six in the order, is ready to deputise behind the stumps for Jamie Smith, who misses the series due to preparing for the birth of his first child.

England's bowling attack includes Chris Woakes, Gus Atkinson, and Brydon Carse as their three seamers, with captain Ben Stokes also a fourth option. Shoaib Bashir has been selected over Jack Leach as the front-line spinner in the absence of Leach, Ahmed, Stone, and Potts.

Former England batter Graham Thorpe, who passed away earlier this year, will be honoured alongside former New Zealand captain Martin Crowe as part of a new trophy that the two nations will compete for. The Crowe-Thorpe Trophy, unveiled on Thursday morning, is a collaboration between New Zealand Cricket, the ECB, and the families of each player.

The England Test tour of New Zealand continues with matches in Wellington and Hamilton after the Christchurch match.