November 26, 2024: It looks like England is fielding a fresh and exciting lineup for the first Test against New Zealand in Christchurch!
The inclusion of Jacob Bethell is certainly a bold move, as he’s uncapped in Test cricket but has shown strong promise in limited-overs formats. His debut at number 3 will be a significant challenge, especially with his relative inexperience in the red-ball format, but his strong performances in the Under-19 World Cup and the white-ball series give him a solid base to build on.
The decision to have Ollie Pope behind the stumps in place of Jamie Smith is interesting, especially given Pope’s usual role as a batter. It shows the adaptability of the squad, though it will be important for him to adjust quickly to the wicketkeeping role in a Test match setting.
Ben Stokes leading the side is no surprise, and with the trio of pace bowlers—Chris Woakes, Gus Atkinson, and Brydon Carse—alongside the left-arm spinner Shoaib Bashir, England’s bowling lineup looks balanced and capable of taking on the New Zealand batsmen.
New Zealand will definitely have the motivation to win the series 3-0 to secure a spot in the World Test Championship final, so the stakes are high for both sides.
England’s lineup for the first Test is:
- Zak Crawley
- Ben Duckett
- Jacob Bethell
- Joe Root
- Harry Brook
- Ollie Pope (WK)
- Ben Stokes (C)
- Chris Woakes
- Gus Atkinson
- Brydon Carse
- Shoaib Bashir
It’s shaping up to be an exciting contest!
