England have announced their squad for the three-match Test series against New Zealand starting November 28.
Following their 1-2 series defeat against Pakistan, England will travel to New Zealand for their next assignment in the longest format. The squad for the three-Test series has been named a month in advance, with just one change to the touring party that lost in Pakistan.
Wicketkeeper Jamie Smith, who will miss the tour on paternity leave, has been replaced by Jacob Bethell. Bethell will act as a batting reinforcement while Jordan Cox is set to take over from Smith as the wicketkeeper in the XI. Both Bethell and Cox are uncapped at the Test level. Left-arm spinner Jack Leach, meanwhile, has held on to his place, and will be one of the three frontline spinners in the squad alongside Shoaib Bashir and Rehan Ahmed.
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The seam attack for England consists of five options in Chris Woakes, Gus Atkinson, Olly Stone, Matthew Potts, and Brydon Carse, with skipper Ben Stokes filling in as the sixth seamer.
New Zealand would be heading into the series on the back of a historic series win in India and will be high on confidence. The last time these two sides met in the longest format was in February last year, when both sides won a game each to draw the series 1-1, played in New Zealand. The last time England won a Test series in New Zealand was in 2008, Matthew Vaughan's side defeated Daniel Vettori-led New Zealand 2-1.
The three Tests of the 2024-25 series will be played at Christchurch (November 28-December 2), Wellington (December 6-December 10), and Hamilton (December 14-December 18).
England squad for New Zealand Tests
Ben Stokes (c), Rehan Ahmed, Gus Atkinson, Shoaib Bashir, Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook, Brydon Carse, Jordan Cox, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Jack Leach, Ollie Pope, Matthew Potts, Joe Root, Olly Stone, Chris Woakes
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