England wicketkeeper Jordan Cox faces a race against time to be fit for the opening Test against New Zealand after sustaining a blow to his right hand during a training session in Queenstown on Sunday morning. Cox, who was primed to make his Test debut in the absence of regular keeper Jamie Smith, was taken to a local hospital for scans to assess the extent of the injury.
The incident occurred in the nets as England prepared for the first Test at Hagley Oval, set to begin on Thursday. Cox’s potential debut had been highly anticipated, given his recent promotion to the squad, with Smith on paternity leave. However, this injury could sideline the 23-year-old for the series opener, casting doubt over his availability.
This is not the first time Cox has suffered an injury to his right hand. In 2023, he endured a severe broken finger during the Hundred competition, further raising concerns about the severity of the current injury. With a move to Essex for the upcoming summer, Cox had hoped to make a solid impression behind the stumps for the red-ball team, but this injury may hinder his preparations for that as well.
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In Cox’s absence during Saturday’s tour match, Ollie Pope stepped in as wicketkeeper, while Ben Stokes opted to rest, making his presence felt as a player in the field. The match also saw James Anderson, four months after his forced retirement, come out of retirement temporarily to take on a substitute fielder’s role.
England’s squad in New Zealand has been hit with multiple absences, with Jacob Bethell and Rehan Ahmed set to join the team in Christchurch on Monday, having completed their white-ball commitments in the Caribbean.
Should Cox be ruled out of the tour, England are unlikely to further burden Pope with the wicketkeeping duties in addition to his position as No. 3 batter. In such a scenario, the team may look to call up reinforcements, including middle-order batters Phil Salt or Durham’s Ollie Robinson, both of whom are seeking their first Test call-up. Although Jonny Bairstow, who last played Test cricket earlier in the year, could be a potential option, his long absence from the format makes his recall unlikely.
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With the first Test less than a week away, England will anxiously await the results of Cox’s scans, hoping the young wicketkeeper will recover in time to make his much-anticipated Test debut.
