Ahead of the three-match Test series, England have confirmed their playing XI for the opening match against New Zealand at Hagley Oval, Christchurch on 28 November. England’s playing XI, led by Ben Stokes, has experienced campaigners and promising talent. Dominate Christchurch with both bat and ball.
The dynamic opening pair of Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett are set to grab the headlines by posing a huge challenge to the Kiwi bowlers in the three-match Test series opener in Christchurch.
England announce their playing XI for the first Test against New Zealand
Crawley and Duckett will set the tone at the top of the order for England. However, all eyes will be on 21-year-old all-rounder Jacob Bethell, who is set to make his long-awaited Test debut.
Jacob Bethell’s selection in England’s starting XI comes after he was bought by Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) for a whopping INR 2.60 crore in the IPL 2025 mega auction.
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Bethell’s first-class record is impressive, amassing 738 runs at an average of 25.44 from 30 innings, and England’s ‘Baseball’ philosophy perfectly complements his fearless approach to batting.
Bethell has been inserted at the all-important No.3 position for the much-anticipated Test series opener against New Zealand. Meanwhile, Ollie Pope will take over as wicketkeeper after Jordan Cox was ruled out of the Test series in New Zealand with a broken thumb.
Jacob Bethell is set to make his Test debut for England at No.3 in Christchurch
Originally, Jordan Cox was set to make his Test debut as a replacement for Jamie Smith, who left New Zealand to stay with his wife for the birth of their first child.
With Bethell set to make his Test debut at No.3, Ollie Pope has been demoted to No.6 for the Test series opener, while the middle order has been bolstered by the presence of batting icon Joe Root and young batting sensation Harry Brook. , and captain and star all-rounder Ben Stokes himself.
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Speaking of the bowling attack for the Christchurch Test, England’s pace attack looks comprehensive with Chris Woakes, Gus Atkinson and Brydon Carse, while Shoaib Bashir is the only spinner in the bowling line-up to trouble the Kiwi batsmen in the first Test. .
The ECB said in a media release: “England Men have confirmed their XI for the first Test against New Zealand, which starts on Thursday in Christchurch (11am local time). Warwickshire all-rounder Jacob Bethell will make his Test debut and is set to bat at number three. Ollie Pope last week end will keep wicket and bat at six in the absence of Jordan Cox, who broke his right thumb during training in Queenstown.
England’s XI for the first Test against New Zealand:
Zach Crawley, Ben Duckett, Jacob Bethell, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ollie Pope (WK), Ben Stokes (C), Chris Woakes, Gus Atkinson, Braydon Carse, Shoaib Bashir
