New Zealand vs England: Jacob Bethell earns first Test call-up as Jamie Smith to miss series

By Stephan Shemilt, BBC Chief Cricket Writer

This was an unusual situation for England. Going back to Jonny Bairstow, Ben Foakes, Dan Lawrence or Alex Lees would raise eyebrows, as would unlimited options like Ben McKinney and James Rew.

They have found another idea in Bethell, who is clearly talented, but so inexperienced and without any real work in professional cricket.

For all the talk of building a battery of fast bowlers, the batting now looks curious: Ollie Pope is out of form, Ben Stokes is feeling his way back and Jordan Cox is set for a New Zealand debut.

Now the next guy in line doesn’t have a first-class hundred. As England build to the Ashes, it is worth remembering that their only win there in the last thirty-plus years came from a pile of runs.

Also, not everything is about the Ashes.

In the heavy defeat in the decisive Test in Pakistan, England were forced into the field. A team of young, unflappable characters is positive, but sometimes you need players who take the game by the scruff of the neck.

Bairstow, Stuart Broad, James Anderson and Ollie Robinson are said to be keen to battle it out. Without them, Stokes seemed to be short a few fighters.

It is admirable that Stokes and Brendon McCullum are renewing the age profile of the England squad and county cricket is very different to the international game, so there are advantages to focusing on attributes rather than records.

Yet there is a nagging doubt that England may have a few too many boys and too few men.