England will hand out a third Test debut against New Zealand today (Wednesday, June 17) as Somerset star James Rew replaces new father Jamie Smith, writes Rory Dollard, Press Association Cricket Correspondent.
Smith was absent from training at the Kia Oval on Tuesday, with the England and Wales Cricket Board confirming the arrival of his second child earlier that morning.
Rew, the 22-year-old from Somerset, takes over the gloves and at number six in the batting order to complete a hat-trick of new faces in an unfamiliar home XI.
Fast bowler Sonny Baker and batter Jordan Cox had already been named in the side, with Rew’s addition making a total of five changes from the side which beat New Zealand by 115 runs at Lord’s just 10 days ago.
Rew will be the 20th player to make his debut under head coach Brendon McCullum in 46 matches.
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Cox and Baker replaced captain Ben Stokes and Gus Atkinson, who were not considered for selection following their breach of a team curfew during last Sunday’s victory celebrations, with Jofra Archer and Matt Fisher also coming into the side.
Rew has long been tipped for full international honours.
At the start of last season the left-hander became the youngest Englishman to reach 10 first-class centuries since the revered Denis Compton in 1939 and he has added two more since.
He has already racked up 64 first-class appearances, averaging 41.71, and was first called up to the Test squad over a year ago for a standalone match against Zimbabwe.
Rew travelled to Australia with Andrew Flintoff’s Lions, which he has captained, and spent further time with the senior squad.
He is considered solid rather than outstanding behind the stumps and was put through his paces in a lengthy session with Sarah Taylor, the World Cup winning former England keeper who has become the first woman to work with the men’s national team.
Taylor was brought in as part of an expanded backroom team this summer, following criticisms of their hollowed-out coaching group Down Under.
Confirming the change, the ECB said: "Uncapped wicketkeeper-batter James Rew has been called into the England men’s XI for the second Rothesay Test against New Zealand in place of Jamie Smith.
"Smith has been withdrawn from the Test match following the birth of his second child, enabling him to remain with his partner and family."
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