Excitement is building for young England National Cricket Team batter Jordan Cox as he is poised to make his Test debut in the upcoming series against New Zealand. 

The promising keeper-batter is set to fill the shoes of regular wicketkeeper Jamie Smith, who will be absent from the squad due to paternity leave.

Following the ongoing Test series against Pakistan, England will tour New Zealand for a three-match Test series, commencing on November 28. The second Test is scheduled for December 6, with the series concluding on December 14. The series marks an important opportunity for Cox, who has been a regular fixture in the England setup despite facing recent challenges.

Jamie Smith, the current keeper-batter, confirmed his absence from the Test series, revealing that he and his partner are expecting their first child in mid-December. 

With the due date likely to coincide with either the second or third Test, Smith expressed his desire to be present for the birth, stating, "Being at the birth of my son is not something I want to miss. It will be a memory that I cherish more than any in cricket anyway, so if I lost my place because of it, so be it."

Jordan Cox, who recently switched county teams from Kent to Essex, has made significant strides in his career, scoring four centuries and averaging an impressive 65.57 in his debut County Championship season. 

Despite suffering a broken finger during The Hundred, Cox has remained dedicated, honing his wicketkeeping skills with guidance from England head coach Brendon McCullum while in Pakistan.

"It's life, right? People have kids, and we wish them all the best to be there and support their partners. At this stage, it looks like Jamie will probably play the first [Test in New Zealand] and may miss the next two. We're not totally sure - it's up to Mother Nature a little - but we know we've got Jordan Cox in the squad here."

Cox made his international debut in England's T20I series against Australia last month and is expected to soon be included in the squads for the upcoming white-ball tour to the Caribbean. 

McCullum spoke highly of Cox's talent and readiness to step up, noting, "He's annoyingly good at everything he does - particularly on the golf course. He's one of those guys that you look at and say he's got a high ceiling in terms of talent, particularly with bat in hand. There's a fair chance that he'll get the opportunity in New Zealand, if Jamie does return home, to bat down the order and take the gloves."