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

The tourists were forced into an eleventh-hour rethink after wicketkeeper Jordan Cox was ruled out of the series with a broken thumb.

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,

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.