England make latest surprise selection as they call up Jacob Bethell for Test tour of New Zealand as batting cover for Jamie Smith

Jacob Bethell has played for England in both one-day and T20 fixtures lately Jamie Smith is expected to miss the final two Tests to attend the birth of his child England have added to their list of surprise selections by picking the uncapped Jacob Bethell in their Test squad for next month's tour of New Zealand. Warwickshire's Bethell has featured seven times at one-day and Twenty20 international levels in recent weeks, impressing with a 24-ball 44 to help guide England to victory over Australia in Cardiff in just his second appearance. Bethell is yet to hit a first-class hundred and has a modest career average of 25.44, but is the latest example of a player being identified by the England hierarchy of managing director Rob Key, coach Brendon McCullum and captain Ben Stokes for what they are capable of rather than what they have already achieved. England are set to call up uncapped Jacob Bethell for the Test tour of New Zealand next month Bethell is cover for Jamie Smith, who will leave during the tour to attend the birth of his child Ben Stokes' side are looking to bounce back from a disappointing series defeat by Pakistan Shoaib Bashir and Tom Hartley were picked on this basis for the Test tour of India earlier this year while the introductions of Smith, his Surrey colleague Gus Atkinson and Durham's Brydon Carse were to some degree because the selectors felt their games might be more suited Test over county cricket.