England's Jordan Cox Misses NZ Series Due to Thumb Injury

England wicketkeeper Jordan Cox has been ruled out of the Test series against New Zealand after breaking his thumb during a practice session in Queenstown. The 24-year-old, who was set to make his Test debut in Christchurch as a replacement for Jamie Smith, sustained the injury while facing throw-downs from assistant coach Jeetan Patel. 

In Cox’s absence, Ollie Pope is expected to keep wickets for the series opener. This change could also pave the way for 21-year-old Jacob Bethell to receive his maiden Test cap. Bethell, who has shown promise since debuting in white-ball cricket, was included in the squad despite lacking a senior century in professional cricket. He and Rehan Ahmed had travelled directly to Christchurch after participating in England's limited-overs series in the West Indies. 

Pope, who has previously kept wickets in Tests, took on the role during England’s warm-up match. With limited players available in Queenstown, veteran James Anderson had to step in as a substitute fielder. Anderson, now England’s bowling consultant, has also entered the IPL auction. 

Cox's injury has been described as a significant setback, as he had been preparing to fill in for Smith, who is on paternity leave. England is expected to name a replacement for Cox soon, adding to an already complex situation regarding their wicketkeeping lineup. 

In the warm-up game, England narrowly missed chasing a target of 201, with standout performances from Joe Root and Ben Stokes helping the side reach 196-9 before stumps.