England wicketkeeper Ben Foakes is out of the final two days of the third Test against New Zealand after testing positive for Covid-19.
Foakes did not take the field on day three after complaining of back stiffness, before later returning a positive rest. Kent’s Sam Billings will take his place for the remainder of the Headingley Test.
Jonny Bairstow deputised with the gloves during the tourists’ second innings but Billings, who made his Test debut in the final match of the Ashes, has been drafted to take over for the rest of the match.
Ben Foakes is out of the third Test against New Zealand after testing positive for Covid-19
The England and Wales Cricket Board confirmed that there are no other positive cases in the camp after Foakes’ test.
A statement from the ECB read: ‘Ben 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.’
While the series is not being played in Covid-19 bubbles, players are still required to isolate if they test positive for the virus.
Foakes celebrates as New Zealand’s Will Young is caught out during day of the Test series
Foakes was out for a duck in the first innings in Leeds but made 107 runs across the first two Tests, including an important unbeaten fifty in England’s win in the first Test at Lord’s.
England hope he will be fit for the rearranged Test against India which starts on Friday at Edgbaston.
Billings becomes the second substitute to play for England in this series, with Lancashire leg-spinner Matt Parkinson handed a debut at Lord’s after Jack Leach fell awkwardly in the field.
Sam Billings (pictured) became the second substitute to play for England in the series