Jordan Cox injured his right hand during a nets session, and a replacement will be announced in due course
Jordan Cox has been ruled out of England’s Test series against New Zealand after fracturing his right thumb during a nets session ahead of the final day of their tour match against the Prime Minister’s XI.
The injury occurred on Sunday morning in Queenstown, where England had been preparing for the first Test, which starts on Thursday at Hagley Oval. Cox was immediately taken to a local hospital, where scans confirmed the extent of the damage. The 24-year-old had been set to make his Test debut, with regular wicketkeeper Jamie Smith missing the tour for the birth of his first child.
A replacement will be announced soon, with Durham’s Ollie Robinson expected to receive a maiden call-up. England’s white-ball regular Phil Salt and Essex’s Michael Pepper, who toured the Caribbean with the limited-overs side, are also options. Other wicketkeeping alternatives include Somerset’s James Rew and Lancashire’s Matty Hurst, both of whom are due to tour South Africa with the Lions. Jonny Bairstow, still under contract for another year, is unlikely to be recalled at this stage.
Ollie Pope filled in for Cox during the remainder of the warm-up fixture, but England will prefer not to burden him with additional responsibilities, as he is already handling the No. 3 batting position. After a challenging tour of Pakistan, where Pope averaged just 11, Cox’s strong form may have tested the selectors’ loyalty to the vice-captain.
Cox, who made his ODI and T20I debuts in the last two months, will have to wait a little longer for his Test debut. He will remain with the squad in Christchurch and may take a break in Australia before returning home, having had little rest since the end of the English summer.
“I’m gutted for Jordan,” said Test head coach Brendon McCullum. “He has been looking sharp with both bat and gloves since we arrived in New Zealand. Unfortunately, these things happen in sport. We’ll support him, and his time will come.”
Following Cox’s injury, England found themselves short of players on Sunday, leading to James Anderson making a surprise return to the field, four months after his international retirement. Anderson, along with captain Ben Stokes, who opted out of the first day’s play, filled in during the fielding session, while three other players took extra time in the nets.
Jacob Bethell and Rehan Ahmed will join the squad in Christchurch on Monday after a brief break following the white-ball tour of the Caribbean. Cox’s replacement should be confirmed within the next 48 hours.
