England call Sam Billings into Test squad for Ashes finale at Hobart

The wicketkeeper, who has yet to make his Test debut, is already in Australia and has been playing in the Big Bash for Sydney Thunder

England have added Sam Billings to their Test squad for the final Ashes match at Hobart.

Billings, who has yet to make his red-ball debut for his country, is already in Australia and has been playing in the Big Bash for Sydney Thunder.

England are hopeful of getting the Kent captain into their tour group - he needs to undergo a period of isolation and submit a negative PCR test before being admitted to the 'bubble' - and he looks set to be drafted into the starting XI at the Blundstone Arena.

Billings had been due to fly back to the UK on Friday night to prepare for the T20 tour of the Caribbean.

^{Sam Billings has been added to England's Ashes squad (Gareth Copley/Getty Images)}

England still hope the wicketkeeper will be part of that trip, which otherwise has a completely separate squad from the Ashes group.

The five-match campaign is due to start on January 22, with all the games set to be staged on Barbados. 

The ECB had asked all those called up for the trip to leave the Big Bash by January 7 to ensure they could be "safe living" for two weeks prior to the start of the series. 

Billings' chances of stepping straight into the team at Hobart look good. 

Jos Buttler, who has endured a difficult series with the bat, is - like Ben Stokes - not expected to feature, while Jonny Bairstow sustained a blow to his thumb while making an excellent century at the SCG on Friday and is unlikely to take the gloves.

Bairstow said when questioned about the extent of his injury after play on day two in Sydney: "I don't know as yet to be really honest with you. I'll know some more information tomorrow.

"I'm not sure about the keeping side of things. So but from a batting point of view, I'll be out there in the morning."

Billings has carried the drinks in Tests before but is yet to make his debut (Daniel Leal/AFP via Getty Images)

Another potential keeping option, Ollie Pope, practised his glovework in the SCG nets on Friday.

He took on the role against New Zealand in Hamilton in late November following an injury to Buttler, and has previously spoken about his desire to prove himself as a worthy alternative behind the stumps.

Billings, however, seems to be the more realistic choice.

He is highly thought of within the England setup, but has been exclusively used as a white-ball option. The 30-year-old has made 58 appearances in ODIs and T20Is.

He was involved in the red-ball squads during the summer series against New Zealand and India, and has six first-class centuries to his name as well as an average of a shade above 34.