Jordan Cox is set to make his England Test debut against New Zealand

Jordan Cox is set to make a Test debut in New Zealand as England draw up contingency plans for Jamie Smith, who is due to go on paternity leave.

Cox is the reserve batsman in the Pakistan squad. He is unlikely to feature in the third Test in Rawalpindi this week unless an unforeseen injury occurs, but England are keen to test him in Test cricket. Smith and his partner are expecting their first child in December and his absence gives England the chance to bleed Cox dry.

Smith is expected to leave the New Zealand tour after the first Test in Christchurch and is unlikely to return until the end of the series. England fly to New Zealand on November 16 for a three-Test tour starting at Hagley Oval on November 28, ahead of games in Wellington and Hamilton.

“Obviously it’s life, right? “People have children and we wish them well for being there and supporting their partners,” said Brendon McCullum, the England coach. “I think at this stage it looks like Jamie will probably play the first part and possibly miss the next two. We're not entirely sure, it's a bit of Mother Nature, but from our perspective we know we have Jordan Cox in the squad here.

“New Zealand is a comfortable place to keep wicket and it would be great to get a look at Jordan Cox too. His stance is solid. I've been working with him a bit lately. He is natural in everything he does. He's one of those guys where people say his talent, especially with the bat in his hand, is very high and there's a good chance he'll get the opportunity to do that in New Zealand when Jamie returns home to bat Resign the order and take off your gloves.”

Cox is an aggressive lower-order batsman but, like Smith, does not play for his county Essex in the Championship. At 23, he is younger than Smith and if he achieves success in New Zealand it would increase competition for places in the top six and increase the pool ahead of next summer's India series and the Ashes.