Sam Billings added to England squad to face India

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) have added wicket-keeper batter Sam Billings to the squad to face India, meaning they have 15 players to choose from for the one-off Test at Edgbaston.

Billings, 31, who made his Test debut earlier this year in the fifth Ashes Test at Hobart, was drafted into England’s playing XI for the second innings of the Headingley Test after incumbent keeper Ben Foakes tested positive for Covid-19. Billings was not needed to bat in the second innings, but he did, however, take one catch in New Zealand’s second dig, that of Neil Wagner. 

Whether the 31-year-old features in the one-off Test against India will depend on how quickly Foakes recovers.

Barring the addition of Billings, England have opted to retain the same squad that they named for the third Test against New Zealand. 

England squad for one-off Test against India

Ben Stokes (capt), James Anderson, Jonny Bairstow, Stuart Broad, Harry Brook, Zak Crawley, Ben Foakes (wk), Jack Leach, Alex Lees, Craig Overton, Jamie Overton, Matthew Potts, Ollie Pope, Joe Root