England call Sam Billings, Haseeb Hameed for New Zealand Tests, Ben Foakes ruled out

England has called in Haseeb Hameed and Sam Billings for the Test series against New Zealand after Ben Foakes’ ouster. Foakes, who was selected in the squad earlier this month, was set to play his first Test in home conditions at Lord’s from June 2, however, a torn hamstring means that he will miss the entire series.

The wicketkeeper-batter picked the injury rather freakishly as he slipped in the dressing room after Surrey’s fixture against Middlesex at the Kia Oval in the ongoing Country Championship 2021. 

It is understood that he will be medically assessed and will undergo rehabilitation under the supervision of the Surrey medical team and is expected to be ruled out of action for nothing less than three months. That also means he will not feature against India in the five-Test series, which gets underway from August 4th at Trent Bridge.

Kent’s wicketkeeper-batter Sam Billings and Nottinghamshire’s top-order batter Haseeb Hameed have been included in the squad. Hameed, who has been impressive Country 2021 season  (474 at an average of 52.66), last featured in the whites against India during England’s winter tour of 2016, while Billings is yet to debut in the longest format for his team.

IPL stars missing from England squad 

England is set to miss both Ben Stokes, who injured his finger in the now-suspended 14th edition of the Indian Premier League last month, and Jofra Archer, whose elbow injury has resurfaced after participating for Sussex in the County. Multi-format stars Moeen Ali, Jonathan Bairstow, Jos Buttler, Sam Curran and Chris Woakes have also been rested after completing a quarantine period following the IPL cancellation.

In the absence of fellow keepers Buttler and Bairstow, Foakes must have fancied a chance to add to his eight Test caps and to make his home debut, but as it now stands, this could well be Gloucestershire’s wicketkeeper-batter James Bracey and Billings’ chance to make way inside the team.

Bracey earned his maiden call-up alongside Sussex pacer Ollie Robinson as both impressed at the County this year. Meanwhile, Somerset all-rounder Craig Overton has been called up after he last played against Australia at Manchester in 2019.

England Squad: Joe Root (C), James Anderson, Sam Billings, James Bracey, Stuart Broad, Rory Burns, Zak Crawley, Haseeb Hameed, Dan Lawrence, Jack Leach, Craig Overton, Ollie Pope, Ollie Robinson, Dom Sibley, Olly Stone, Mark Wood