Billings drafted into England Test XI
Sunday 26th June 2022
Kent Men Captain Sam Billings, subject to ICC approval, has been drafted in as a like-for-like replacement for Ben Foakes, after the Surrey wicketkeeper tested positive for COVID-19.
Billings will go straight into the XI when the fourth day of England vs. New Zealand gets underway from 11:00 today. He will keep wicket for his country and will miss Kent’s LV= Insurance County Championship match against Surrey beginning today.
Jack Leaning will captain Kent at the Kia Oval.
Foakes was unable to keep wicket yesterday on day three of the Third LV= Insurance Test at Headingley suffering from back stiffness. On a further medical assessment yesterday evening, he subsequently tested positive after administering an LFT COVID-19 test.
Details of his return to the England set-up will be announced in due course. However, it is hoped he will be fit for the LV= Insurance Test against India starting next Friday at Edgbaston.
The rest of the England party follows health protocols of symptom reporting and subsequent testing if required. There are no other positive cases in the camp.
