Courtesy-ESPN
The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) announced on Tuesday that wicketkeeper-batsman James Bracey will make his League debut against New Zealand, which begins on Wednesday at Lord’s Cricket Ground. “698 is the cap number. @bobbybracey25, congratulations! “England Cricket’s official account tweeted.
Cap numbers 698 and 699!
Congratulations @bobbybracey25 and @ollierobinson25 ❤️ pic.twitter.com/D4gzhVMidz
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) June 2, 2021
Congratulations to @bobbybracey25 and @ollierobinson25 who are making their Test debuts for England 🧢#ENGvNZ pic.twitter.com/YBorrjQ0zl
— ICC (@ICC) June 2, 2021
The team’s vice-captain, bowler Stuart Broad, announced earlier on Tuesday for the two-match Test series against New Zealand, which begins on Wednesday. For the forthcoming Test series against New Zealand, England men’s cricket coach, Chris Silverwood approached Kent wicketkeeper-batsman Sam Billings and Nottinghamshire top-order batsman, Haseeb Hameed last week.
After ripping his left hamstring, England wicketkeeper Ben Foakes has been ruled out of the next Test series against New Zealand. Foakes, who was named to England’s men’s team earlier this month, was expected to play his maiden Test at Lord’s next month, but he slipped in the dressing room following Surrey’s County Championship match against Middlesex at the Kia Oval and incurred an injury.
“He will now be examined and work closely on his rehabilitation with the Surrey medical team,” the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) said in an official statement. “He is likely to be out of action for at least three months,” the ECB added.
Billings, a regular in England’s white-ball cricketer, has never played in a Test match. Hameed, on the other side, has scored 474 runs at a 52.66 average during the 2021 county season. In November 2016, he last played Test cricket. During England’s winter tour of 2016, he earned three Test appearances against India.
Beginning June 2 at Lord’s Cricket Ground, England and New Zealand will face off in two Tests. The second Test between England and New Zealand, which will take place at Edgbaston from June 10 to 14, will be the first pilot event in the second phase of the government’s world-leading Events Research Program, and is expected to draw a large crowd. The stadium would be able to hold roughly 18,000 people every day, accounting for 70% of the overall seating capacity.