Jacob Bethel: England batsman to assess finger injury

After scoring a landmark century in the last Ashes Test in Sydney in January, Bethel is lined up to bat at number three for the first time in a home Test against New Zealand.

He will do so on the back of limited red-ball cricket for the Bears – Bethel have played just once in the County Championship since August 2024.

Before Bethel came into the Bengaluru team, former England captain Sir Alastair Cook questioned his presence in India when he said: “He’s not doing anything. Ideally he can come back and open for Warwickshire to help England.”

Cook’s former England teammate Kevin Pietersen responded by writing in X: “Alastair Cook has absolutely no idea what it’s like to be in the IPL. What it’s like to be around the best players in the world all the time.

“So his opinion about Jacob Bethel doesn’t matter at all. Stay in India, Jacob. I know, even if you’re not playing, you’re learning and becoming a better player.”

England have already changed their batting line-up for the first Test against New Zealand after their 4-1 loss to Australia.

It will be produced by Emilio Gay of Durham Test debut at the top of the order, Omission at the expense of Zak Crawley.

Uncapped Somerset left-hander James Rew is in the England squad as batting cover and will benefit from Bethel’s omission.