The English wicket-keeper batsman, Ben Foakes has been ruled out of the two-match Test series New Zealand due to a hamstring injury which he sustained through a freak injury in the dressing room. Foakes, who made a name for himself with his brilliant glovework in the subcontinent, was set to play his first Test at home but slipped in the dressing room after Surrey’s county match against Middlesex at The Oval.

In a statement regarding the same, ECB said, “He will now be assessed and work closely on his rehabilitation with the Surrey medical team and is expected to be out of action for at least three months.”

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It means he is all but ruled out of the home series against India as well. As Foakes’ replacement, Sam Billings and Haseeb Hameed have been added to the squad.  While Billings is yet to play Test cricket, Hameed played three Tests during England’s tour of India in 2016. He had amassed 219 runs and he has also been in superb form in county cricket, with 474 runs at an average of 52.66.

Get well soon, Foakesy 🙏

Welcome Haseeb and Bilbo 👏

— England Cricket (@englandcricket) May 26, 2021

Talking about Hameed ECB said, “Hameed will play for Nottinghamshire in this week’s LV= Insurance County Championship match against Warwickshire at Edgbaston starting on Thursday. He will join up with the England team at their base in London on Sunday night.”

England will be led by Joe Root, with plenty of fresh faces. The IPL stars – Ben Stokes, Jonny Bairstow, and Jos Buttler – are not in the squad. Jofra Archer has been ruled out with injury.

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