ENG vs NZ: England suffered a huge blow after repeated losses against Pakistan in the series, which concluded recently, and the hosts ended their winless streak.
The English, who are conclusively ruled out of contention for the WTC final for the third time, despite them being the team with the most red-ball appearances in the game, would look to bounce back and restore some honour in the format.
Most of the English squad have restored their usual test players, while some changes have been notable. Jacob Bethell, the all-rounder from Warwickshire who recently made his debut for the limited-overs side, has now been called up for the red-ball side as well.
Jamie Smith, on the other hand, is England’s rising sensation in the game, especially with him stunning in the longest format of the game. However, this time around the wicketkeeper misses on the tour owing to his parental duties as he awaits the birth of his first child.
In his place, Jordan Cox has been brought into the English squad as a wicketkeeper-batsman. Ben Stokes will be once again seen as the skipper after he failed to mark a promising return in the second Test in the Pakistan series.
England has retained their likes of 3 quality spinners in Rehan Ahmed, Jack Leach, and Shoaib Bashir, while also having the likes of pacers like Olly Stone, Chris Woakes, Brydon Carse, Matthew Potts, and Gus Atkinson, as the bowling deck seems decorated with 8 among the 16 players.
Pope might be seen in the role of wicketkeeper, as the player would also be in the hope for some form, as Joe Root and Harry Brook would look to continue their dominance with the side. The series will begin on the 28th of November at the Hagley Oval, with the 3-match test series scheduled at Wellington and Hamilton.
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ENG vs. NZ: England Squad Announced: Ben Stokes (captain), Rehan Ahmed, Gus Atkinson, Shoaib Bashir, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Jack Leach, Ollie Pope, Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook, Brydon Carse, Jordan Cox, Matthew Potts, Joe Root, Olly Stone, and Chris Woakes.
