The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) released an official statement on June 26, 2022, ahead of the fourth day’s play in the ongoing third Test match against New Zealand at Leeds, that keeper Ben Foakes had tested positive for COVID-19.

Ben Foakes didn’t keep wickets for England on the third day of the match after complaining of stiffness in the back and instead, Jonny Bairstow took over as keeper for the day. 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 rescheduled Test against India starting next Friday at Edgbaston.

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In meantime, England has called up Sam Billings, who on approval of ICC, 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 today. He will keep wickets. 

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.

(ECB inputs)