Jacob Bethell will bat at number three on his Test debut in England's series opener against New Zealand in Christchurch on Thursday.

England have thrown Jacob Bethell in at the deep end after asking the 21-year-old to bat at number three on his Test debut against New Zealand this week.

Jacob Bethells first-class stats extremely modest with average of 25 and no hundred - but Warwickshire star looks a generational talent; 21-year-old will make Test debut in New Zealand after sparkling in white-ball game for club and country,

The tourists have named their XI for the opening Test of their tour of New Zealand, with a young batter named to bat at No.3

England are back on Test duty on Wednesday night, when they begin a three-match series against New Zealand in Christchurch – Richard Mann has three bets for the opener.

Ollie Pope will keep wicket and bat at No 6 for England in the first Test against New Zealand in Christchurch, which begins on Thursday8; Chris Woakes, Gus Atkinson, Brydon Carse and Shoaib Bashir make up the bowling attack,

England wicketkeeper Jordan Cox has been ruled out of the three-test series against New Zealand after fracturing his thumb in a net session during a tour match in Queenstown. Cox was set to make his test debut in the series opener in Christchurch,

Jacob Bethell will make his Test debut for England at No. 3 against New Zealand in the first Test at Hagley Oval on Thursday, despite never having fulfilled the role in first-class cricket. As part of a reshuffled batting line-up following Jordan Cox's broken thumb,

Bethell has just picked up a £250,000 Indian Premier League deal with Royal Challengers Bangalore but has played just 20 first-class matches with a modest average of just 25.44 and has never scored a professional century.

The move means Ollie Pope - who will take the gloves for the first time in two years - will drop down three places to No 6, while captain Ben Stokes comes in at No 7.