Injured Ben Foakes ruled out of New Zealand Tests

London: England wicketkeeper-batsman Ben Foakes was on Wednesday ruled out of the upcoming two-match Test series against New Zealand with a torn hamstring.

The batsman is expected to be out of action for the next three weeks, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) said in a statement.

Foakes was set to play his maiden Test match in home conditions in England's two-Test series against New Zealand, starting at Lord's on June 2.

However, he sustained an injury on Sunday after slipping in the dressing room during the County Championship match between Surrey and Middlesex. It resulted in a torn hamstring, and Foakes will now undergo rehabilitation with the Surrey medical team.

The wicket-keeper has featured in 8 Tests so far, impressing in tough conditions with both bat and behind the stumps.

Uncapped wicketkeeper-batsman Sam Billings has been called in as a replacement to the England squad. However, James Bracey, who was already a part of the squad, is expected to make it to the England XI as the 'keeper.

Meanwhile, Haseeb Hameed also returned to the England Test side, having last played in November 2016.

Hameed has been in impressive form during the 2021 county season, scoring 474 runs at an average of 52.66. He will join the England squad on Sunday following Nottinghamshire's County Championship match against Warwickshire at Edgbaston, starting on Thursday.

England Squad: Joe Root (c), James Anderson, James Bracey, Stuart Broad, Rory Burns, Zak Crawley, Dan Lawrence, Jack Leach, Craig Overton, Ollie Pope, Ollie Robinson, Dom Sibley, Olly Stone, Mark Wood, Sam Billings, Haseeb Hameed (UNI)