Billings called up to England Men’s Test squad

Sam Billings has been called up to England’s Men’s Test squad for the first time in his career following an injury to Surrey wicketkeeper Ben Foakes.

Foakes, who was selected in the England men’s squad earlier this month, was set to play his first Test in home conditions next month at Lord’s, sustained the injury on Sunday slipping in the dressing room after Surrey’s LV= Insurance County Championship fixture against Middlesex at the Kia Oval.

Billings, an established member of England’s white-ball squads, is uncapped as a Test player, and joins Kent teammate Zak Crawley in his country’s Men’s Test set-up.

The Kent Captain has played 62 first-class matches for the county in his career, scoring 2,689 runs at an average of 34.47, and has five first-class centuries to his name so far.

If selected to play, the 29-year-old will become the 60th Kent player to play Men’s Test cricket for England.

Nottinghamshire’s Haseeb Hameed has also received a Test recall.

England Men’s Test Squad in full:

• Joe Root (Yorkshire) Captain
• James Anderson (Lancashire)
• Sam Billings (Kent)
• James Bracey (Gloucestershire)
• Stuart Broad (Nottinghamshire)
• Rory Burns (Surrey)
• Zak Crawley (Kent)
• Haseeb Hameed (Nottinghamshire)
• Dan Lawrence (Essex)
• Jack Leach (Somerset)
• Craig Overton (Somerset)
• Ollie Pope (Surrey)
• Ollie Robinson (Sussex)
• Dom Sibley (Warwickshire)
• Olly Stone (Warwickshire)
• Mark Wood (Durham)

LV= Insurance Test Series:

• 1st Test: England v New Zealand, 2-6 June 2021, Lord’s Cricket Ground, London
• 2nd Test: England v New Zealand, 10-14 June 2021, Edgbaston, Birmingham