Pak vs Eng – Jordan Cox is in the New Zealand Test lineup as Jamie Smith’s father

Smith and co are expecting their first child in mid-December, with the birth likely to coincide with England’s second or third Test in New Zealand. “My son’s birth is not something I want to miss,” he told the newspaper Daily Mail recently. “It will be a memory I cherish more than any cricket anyway, so if I lose my place because of it, so be it.”

“Life, right?” McCullum said about Smith’s absence. “People have children and we wish them all the best, be there and support their colleagues. At the moment it looks like Jamie will play first.” [Test in New Zealand] and may miss the next two. We’re not entirely sure – it’s a little bit down to Mother Nature – but we know we’ve got Jordan Cox in the team here.”

It won’t worry England that Cox didn’t last last year, as evidenced by Smith’s selection earlier this summer despite being second-choice to Ben Foakes at Surrey. McCullum believes New Zealand is a “comfortable place” to keep wicket, and wants to see how Cox – whose glovework he describes as “solid” – fares at Test level.

Cox is due to make his ODI debut in the series and will have a late bid to play in England’s Champions Trophy squad next year. But it is the prospect of the first Test match later this year that could satisfy his restlessness, and provide assurance of the air miles he will eat up in the first part of England’s winter.

“He’s offensively good at everything he does – especially on the golf course,” McCullum said. “He’s one of those guys that you look at and say he’s at a high level in terms of talent, especially with the bat. There’s a good chance he’ll get a chance in New Zealand, if Jamie comes home, go down the order and take the gloves.”