Jordan Cox Set For England Test Debut During New Zealand Tour

Jordan Cox is poised to make his Test debut as England's wicketkeeper during their upcoming tour of New Zealand. This opportunity arises as Jamie Smith is set to miss part of the series due to paternity leave. Cox, who will turn 24 on Monday as per ESPNcricinfo, has been England's reserve batter for the last five Tests and now has the chance to make his mark in December. Smith and his partner are expecting their first child in mid-December, coinciding with either the second or third Test against New Zealand.

"Being at the birth of my son is not something I want to miss," he told the Daily Mail recently, as per quoted by ESPNcricinfo.

"It will be a memory that I cherish more than any in cricket anyway, so if I lost my place because of it, so be it," he added.

Cox made his international debut in England's T20I series against Australia last month and will soon join the squads for their upcoming white-ball tour to the Caribbean. Although he was unable to keep wicket for Essex this summer due to a severe finger injury sustained in the Hundred last year, he has been refining his wicketkeeping skills with Brendon McCullum in Pakistan.

"It's life, right?" McCullum, who is the head coach of the England Cricket team said of Smith's absence.

"People have kids and we wish them all the best, to be there and support their partners. At this stage, it looks like Jamie will probably play the first [Test in New Zealand] and may miss the next two. We're not totally sure - it's up to Mother Nature a little - but we know we've got Jordan Cox in the squad here," McCullum said, as per quoted by ESPNcricinfo.

England is confident in Cox's abilities, despite his limited recent experience behind the stumps, a belief reinforced by Smith's own