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 have raised eyebrows, as would uncapped options like Ben McKinney and James Rew.

They have settled on another hunch in Bethell, who is clearly talented but so inexperienced and with no real body of work in professional cricket.

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

Now, the next man in line does not have a first-class hundred. If England are building to the Ashes, it is worth remembering their only series win in Australia in the past 30-plus years was built on a stack of runs.

Not everything is about the Ashes, either.

In the heavy loss in the deciding Test in Pakistan, England drifted in the field. A team of young, unflappable characters is a positive, but sometimes you need players to take the game by the scruff of the neck.

Bairstow, Stuart Broad, James Anderson and Ollie Robinson would be happy to get in a battle. Without them, Stokes has looked short of a few fighters.

It is admirable that Stokes and head coach Brendon McCullum are revamping the age profile of the England squad, and county cricket is very different to the international game so picking on attributes rather than record has merits.

Still, there is a nagging doubt England may have a few too many boys and not enough men.