ENG vs NZ: Ben Foakes COVID Positive Out of 3rd Test? Who is England Wicket Keeper?

Ben Foakes Covid Positive ENG vs NZ: In a big breaking news, England’s wicket-keeper batsman Ben Foakes has tested positive for Covid-19 ahead of the fourth day of the ongoing third and final Test match against New Zealand at the Headingley in Leeds. England have already taken an unassailable lead of 2-0 in the three-match Test series against New Zealand. The Ben Stokes-led side registered amazing victories in the first two Test matches over the visiting Kiwi team.

ENG vs NZ: Ben Foakes COVID Positive Out of 3rd Test? Who is England Wicket Keeper?

England Cricket Board (ECB) have released an official statement revealing that wicket-keeper Ben Foakes will not be available for the remainder of the ongoing England vs New Zealand 3rd Test match. The press release further added that Foakes was unable to keep wickets on Day 3 of the Headingley Test match as he was suffering from back stiffness and further medical assessment revealed that he has tested positive for COVID-19. Sam Billings have been approved as the like-for-like COVID-19 replacement and he will be the England wicket-keeper batsman for the remainder of the third Test against New Zealand.

“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,” said an official statement from ECB.

Kent wicketkeeper/batter Sam Billings, subject to ICC approval, has been drafted in as a like-for-like COVID replacement and will go straight into the XI when the fourth day gets underway from 11.00am today. He will keep wicket. 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,” added the statement.

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Get well soon, Foakesy ?

Welcome to the group, Bilbo ?

??????? #ENGvNZ ??

— England Cricket (@englandcricket) June 26, 2022

England vs New Zealand live score

After winning the toss and opting to bat first, New Zealand posted a total of 329 runs with Daryl Mitchell scoring his third consecutive Test hundred of the series. Tom Blundell also contributed with a crucial knock of 55 runs. For England, left-arm spinner Jack Leach picked up a brilliant five-wicket haul.

In reply, England got off to a horrendous start as they got reduced to 55 for 6 with both Joe Root and skipper Ben Stokes back into the pavilion. However, the pair of Jonny Bairstow and Jamie Overton resurrected the England innings amazingly well with a sensational partnership of 241 runs for the seventh wicket. Bairstow composed a remarkable knock of 162 runs off 157 balls that included as many as 24 boundaries while Overton too scored an unbelievable 97 runs on his Test debut. England got bowled out for 360 runs with a first innings lead of 31 runs.

For New Zealand, Tom Latham smashed an excellent innings of 76 runs in the second innings while captain Kane Williamson contributed with a gutsy knock of 48 runs. At stumps on Day 3, New Zealand were placed at 168 for 5 with a lead of 137 runs.

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England vs New Zealand 2022 Schedule

Date	Format	Match	Time	Venue	Result
2 – 6 June, 2022	1^st Test	England vs New Zealand	3:30 PM IST	Lord’s, London	England won by 5 wickets
10 – 14 June, 2022	2^nd Test	England vs New Zealand	3:30 PM IST	Nottingham, Trent Bridge	England won by 5 wickets
23 – 27 June, 2022	3^rd Test	England vs New Zealand	3:30 PM IST	Headingley, Leeds	TBA