Jacob Bethell has been selected to play in the upcoming Ashes Boxing Day Test in Melbourne.
It will be the 22-year-old’s fifth test cap and first since the dramatic finale of the England vs India series in the summer.
Bethell made his Test debut last winter against New Zealand and impressed in the three-match series, batting at number three, scoring 260 runs at an average of 52.
He comes in to replace Ollie Pope, who has had indifferent returns at number three during the ongoing Ashes series, with England having already lost the urn with two matches still to play.
Bethell has shown good form during the England Lions tour of Australia, making 71 against Australia A in a First-class match in Brisbane, as well as 70 off 80 balls against England in the pre-Ashes warm-up match at Lilac Hill.
The battle between Bethell and Pope for the number three spot has been a major talking point leading up to the series, with Bethell now having the opportunity to stamp his authority and nail down his place in the side for the future.
The Boxing Day Test is one of the most significant events on the Australian sporting calendar, and arguably the most famous Test match in cricket, often played in front of sell-out crowds of 100,000 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
Play is scheduled to get underway at 11am local time on December 26, or 11:30pm GMT on Christmas Day for viewers in the UK.
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