Following are facts and figures ahead of the three-match test series between New Zealand and England, which begins on Thursday: FIXTURES First test: Nov. 28-Dec. 02, Hagley Oval, Christchurch Second test: Dec.

The three-match Test series between New Zealand and England will kick off in Christchurch on November 28. England have already announced their playing XI and even though there's nothing in it for the visitors,

England have handed a debut to youngster Jacob Bethell as they named their playing 11 for the opening Test of the three-match series against New Zealand, starting on Thursday.

England's Jacob Bethell will bat at number three for the first time in first-class cricket when he makes his test debut against New Zealand at Christchurch's Hagley Oval on Thursday.

Check out which players will feature for England in the first Test of the three-game series against New Zealand as the board announced the playing XI only on CricTracker

The tourists were forced into an eleventh-hour rethink after wicketkeeper Jordan Cox was ruled out of the series with a broken thumb.

A section from the bat Graham Thorpe used to score his first two Test centuries against New Zealand has been used as part of the trophy.

England's Jacob Bethell will bat at number three for the first time in first-class cricket when he makes his test debut against New Zealand at Christchurch's Hagley Oval on Thursday. In a rejig forced by the injury to wicketkeeper Jordan Cox,

Jacob Bethell will bat at number three on his Test debut in England's series opener against New Zealand in Christchurch on Thursday.

Batsmen Martin Crowe and Graham Thorpe will be honoured by New Zealand and England playing for a trophy named after them during all future Test series between the sides, starting this week.

Jacob Bethell to make England Test debut after being named in team ► Subscribe to Sky Sports News: ► Watch Sky Sports: Jacob Bethell will make his England Test debut in the opening Test of the three-match series against New Zealand in Christchurch.