England wicketkeeper-batsman Ben Foakes has been ruled out of next month's two-test series against New Zealand after tearing his left hamstring by slipping on a sock.
Foakes, 28, was set to play in what would have been his first home series before sustaining the injury in the changing room, after Surrey's County Championship game against Middlesex.
He's expected to be out for at least three months.
James Bracey is now due to make his debut behind the stumps at Lord's, with England coach Chris Silverwood calling up uncapped Sam Billings as Foakes's replacement.
Nottinghamshire's top-order batsman Haseeb Hameed has also received a call-up.
England's regular keepers Jos Buttler and Jonny Bairstow are both being rested, after their involvement in the Indian Premier League.
The first New Zealand test starts on June 2 and the second at Edgbaston on June 10.
Foakes' injury may also rule him out of the start of the five-test series against India that begins on August
Foakes is the third England player this year to suffer a bizarre injury. In January Jofra Archer dropped a fish tank in his bath, which left him with glass in his finger, while Zak Crawley slipped on a marble floor outside the team’s dressing room in India, landing on his wrist and forcing him to miss two tests.
Meanwhile, Archer has had surgery on a long-standing right elbow injury that has ruled him out of the upcoming test series against New Zealand.
He'll be reassessed in four weeks with an eye to a return for the five-test series against India in August.
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