by Jordan Cox has emerged as an injury doubt ahead of his expected Test debut against New Zealand next week, after injuring his hand in the nets.
With Jamie Smith back home awaiting the birth of his first child, Cox was set to fill in as wicketkeeper in the three-match series which begins in Christchurch on Wednesday.
But the 24-year-old was hit on the right glove while batting in the warm-up on the second day of their warm-up match in Queenstown and was later sent for X-rays after the pain failed to subside. calmed down.
Ollie Pope, an occasional keeper who has been picked three times behind the stumps in his 52 Tests, has stepped in and would be thrust into action again in the first Test if Cox were to be ruled out.
England would likely add a replacement for the second and third Tests if that happens, with Phil Salt a likely candidate despite his involvement in the Abu Dhabu T10.
Players like Durham’s Ollie Robinson and Somerset’s James Rew could also be considered, while experienced duo Jonny Bairstow and Ben Foakes were dropped in favor of Smith earlier this year.
The injury also forced England to hastily change their plans on Sunday morning, with captain Ben Stokes taking the field at Sir John Davies Oval after previously opting out of the match.
With Zak Crawley and Harry Brook also scoring in the morning and squad members Jacob Bethell and Rehan Ahmed joining their teammates on Monday after taking part in the white-ball tour of the West Indies, England had to call on a familiar face to dial the numbers.
Record wicket-taker James Anderson, who is the team’s bowling coach after retiring over the summer, but insists he feels ready to continue his playing career somewhere aged 42, once again donned the England Whites to help out a few. overs at the start of the game.
