Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum continue to take surprising decisions. After selecting spinner Shoaib Bashir just by watching a YouTube video, now a player who has not scored a single century in his career has been selected as a batting all-rounder. After losing the Test series to Pakistan, now England has to face New Zealand exactly a month later. The England Cricket Board has announced its squad for this tour, in which 21-year-old all-rounder Jacob Bethel has been selected. Jacob, who has debuted for England in ODI and T20 cricket, has been selected in the Test team for the first time.
The 3 test match series between New Zealand and England will start from 28th November. The English team for this tour was announced on Tuesday 29 October. This is England’s last series in the World Test Championship cycle, but its result will not affect its position because the team is already out of the race for the final. Despite this, England faces the difficult challenge of defeating India and the Kiwi team which has defeated India at home.
Surprised by selecting 21 year old player
Only one player in the England squad touring Pakistan will not go on the New Zealand tour. Wicketkeeper-batsman Jamie Smith has been exempted from this tour because he is going to become a father for the first time. Wicketkeeper Jordan Cox has been selected to replace him. The most shocking decision has been taken regarding Jacob Bethal. 21 year old Bethail has got a place in the Test squad for the first time. This young left-handed all-rounder has played only 20 matches in his first class career so far, in which he has scored 738 runs with his bat at an average of only 25. He has not scored any century, while only 5 half-centuries are in his account. At the same time, he has not been able to do anything special with his spin bowling and has got only 7 wickets.
Now whether this bet of England’s selection committee including McCullum and Stokes will be beneficial will be known only within the next two months. Bethel made his international debut for England only in September 2024. He scored 85 runs and took 4 wickets in 5 ODI matches against Australia, while 46 runs came to his account in 2 T20 matches. Despite his poor form, vice-captain Olly Pope has been retained, while Jack Crawley, Shoaib Bashir and Rehan Ahmed are also part of the team.
England squad
Ben Stokes (captain), Rehan Ahmed, Gus Atkinson, Shoaib Bashir, Jacob Bethel, Harry Brook, Brydon Carse, Jordan Cox, Jack Crawley, Ben Duckett, Jack Leach, Olly Pope, Matthew Potts, Joe Root, Olly Stone, Chris Woakes.
