England lose Ben Foakes to freak injury for New Zealand Tests and call up Haseeb Hameed and Sam Billings

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Ben Foakes loses his opportunity to make his Test debut at home after slipping in Surrey’s dressing room and breaking his left hamstring; capless goalie James Bracey will now likely make his test debut at Lord’s; Sam Billings and starter Haseeb Hameed called as additional cover

Ben Foakes’ eight tryout appearances for England have come abroad

England have added Haseeb Hameed and Sam Billings to their squad for the test series against New Zealand after Ben Foakes was ruled out with a rare injury.

Foakes was scheduled to play his first test in home conditions next month at Lord’s after teammates Jos Buttler and Jonny Bairstow, along with Moeen Ali, Sam Curran and Chris Woakes, rested for the series after their stints at IPL. .

But the 28-year-old will now miss his chance after slipping into the locker room after Surrey’s LV = Insurance County Championship game against Middlesex at the Kia Oval and breaking his left hamstring.

Foakes’ absence increases the likelihood that Gloucestershire goalie-hitter James Bracey will make his international debut next Wednesday, when coverage of the first test begins live on Sky Sports Cricket at 10 a.m.

Kent goalie and hitter Sam Billings, also uncapped at the test level, has been called in as cover with the team growing from 15 players to 16 after the additional addition of Hameed in form.

Mike Atherton expects Haseeb Hameed to go from strength to strength in Nottinghamshire after the county’s strong start to the season.

The first match has drawn attention this season, finding a new life in Nottinghamshire after leaving Lancashire in 2019.

The 24-year-old has scored 474 runs averaging 52.66 and offers England another option at the top of an order in which Rory Burns, Dom Sibley, Zak Crawley and Bracey are already vying for spots.

Hameed has three test appearances to his name but has not played for England since November 2016, his form drastically reduced for Lancashire in the interim period.

Hameed will play for Nottinghamshire in this week’s LV = Insurance County Championship against Warwickshire at Edgbaston, which begins on Thursday, before joining the England team at their base in London on Sunday night.

England Men’s Test Team: Joe Root: Captain, James Anderson, Sam Billings, James Bracey, Stuart Broad, Rory Burns, Zak Crawley, Haseeb Hameed, Dan Lawrence, Jack Leach, Craig Overton, Ollie Pope, Robinson, Dom Sibley, Olly Stone, Mark Wood.

Watch the first test between New Zealand and England live on Sky Sports Cricket starting at 10am. From Wednesday June 2.

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