Nov 26, (V7N) - England has announced its lineup for the first Test against New Zealand in Christchurch, beginning Thursday. Jacob Bethell, 21, will make his Test debut at number three, filling in after wicketkeeper Jordan Cox suffered a right thumb injury. This reshuffles the batting order, with regular number three Ollie Pope taking on wicketkeeping duties and moving down to bat at six, while captain Ben Stokes will bat at seven.

Bethell, who averages 25.44 in first-class cricket and has not previously batted higher than number four, recently made his international debut in white-ball cricket. Joe Root remains at number four, despite his success batting at three in the recent series against Pakistan.

England's pace attack will feature Chris Woakes, Gus Atkinson, Brydon Carse, and Ben Stokes on a seam-friendly Hagley Oval pitch, with Shoaib Bashir as the lone spinner.

New Zealand has yet to finalize its XI but will benefit from the return of Kane Williamson, who missed their recent series win against India due to injury.

England XI: Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Jacob Bethell, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ollie Pope (wk), Ben Stokes (c), Chris Woakes, Gus Atkinson, Brydon Carse, Shoaib Bashir.

New Zealand squad: Tom Latham (c), Tom Blundell, Devon Conway, Jacob Duffy, Matt Henry, Daryl Mitchell, Will O'Rourke, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Nathan Smith, Tim Southee, Kane Williamson, Will Young.

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