England name XI for first New Zealand Test

Warwickshire’s 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.

Joe Root, England’s all-time leading Test run scorer, told BBC Sport: “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’s father Matt and Bethell’s father Graham were team-mates in club cricket for Sheffield Collegiate.

“I’ve known him and his family for a long time,” said Root. “I saw him play when he was 11 or 12 years old and I could tell then he was already a very accomplished player. It’s been really pleasing seeing him grow up, make his way at Warwickshire, then more recently in the white-ball stuff show everyone what a brilliant player he is.”

Bethell’s elevation comes after he secured his first Indian Premier League contract, with Royal Challengers Bangalore, on Monday.

“There are a number of players where their game is set up better for Test cricket than first-class cricket, Michael Vaughan being a great example of that,” added Root.

“I don’t think you can read too much into it. He’s not really found a spot at Warwickshire – he has been in and out of the team and up and down the order slightly.

“This is a great opportunity for him, a blank canvas in a position where he can really put influence on the game. He can just go play, enjoy it, and I expect him to do just that.”

The first Test at Hagley Oval (10pm GMT Wednesday), begins a three-match series, with games in Wellington and Hamilton to follow.

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.

For the first time, the series between these two teams will be played for the Crowe-Thorpe Trophy, in honour of New Zealand legend Martin Crowe and England great Graham Thorpe.

Thorpe, who made 6,744 runs in 100 Tests for England, who passed away in August aged 55. The left-hander made his highest Test score in Christchurch – 200 not out at Lancaster Park in 2002.

Crowe was New Zealand’s highest Test scorer with 5,444 runs when he ended his career in 1995. He died of cancer at the age of 53 in 2016.

The trophy is made from bats used by each player. The bat gifted by the Thorpe family is one with which he made hundreds in consecutive Tests against New Zealand in 1997, while Crowe’s is from a century he made at Lord’s in 1994.

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