Haseeb Hameed and Sam Billings called up to England Test squad; Ben Foakes out injured

Hameed has not played Test cricket since 2016, while Billings is uncapped; wicketkeeper Foakes tore his hamstring after Surrey's draw with Middlesex on Sunday

Haseeb Hameed and Sam Billings have been called up to England’s Test squad for the series against New Zealand after Ben Foakes was ruled out with a torn hamstring.

Foakes, who is due to be sidelined for at least three months, had been due to play his first Test on home soil, having previously appeared in Sri Lanka and India.

He suffered the injury after slipping in the dressing room at the Kia Oval following Surrey’s LV= Insurance County Championship draw with Middlesex.

His absence could open the door for Gloucestershire’s James Bracey to make his Test debut, while Billings – who returned to red-ball action last week for Kent after his Indian Premier League stint with Delhi Capitals – is also uncapped in the game’s longest format.

However, it is the return of Hameed that is most eye-opening; the Nottinghamshire opener has not played Test cricket since bursting onto the scene in India in 2016 – a rise that was followed by a steep decline that saw him leave Lancashire and go three seasons without a first-class century, averaging just 9.44 in 2018.

Since being named as vice-captain at Trent Bridge – as well as captain of the club’s Royal London Cup side – Hameed has recovered some of his best form, scoring 474 runs so far at an average of 52.66 this year.

^{Ben Foakes had been due to make his first Test appearance in England}

Against Worcestershire, he struck two centuries in the match, setting a new record for the most balls faced in a County Championship match.

The right-hander, affectionately known as the Bolton Boycott during his ascent as a youngster to the international arena, will play for Nottinghamshire against Warwickshire this week before joining up with England on Sunday evening.

Whether Hameed takes the field as part of the playing XI remains unlikely, with Rory Burns and Dom Sibley both in the squad and likely to play at Lord’s against the touring World Test Championship finalists.

In all likelihood, Hameed will take on the role of the spare top order batsman, providing cover for England’s opening pair, with Bracey – who bats in the top order for Gloucestershire – seemingly likely to replace Foakes as the first-choice wicketkeeper for the series and therefore likely to bat at No.7, with Billings in reserve.

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