England added Sam Billings to their Ashes squad as backup wicketkeeper after both Jos Buttler and Jonny Bairstow got injured during the fourth Test match against Australia. While Buttler is struggling with a hand problem, Bairstow injured a thumb on Day 3 while scoring an unbeaten 103 at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
Ben Stokes also has a left side injury during bowling on Day 2 of the fourth Test.
Billings is yet to play a Test match. He was playing in BBL 2021/22, and was set to fly back to England on 6 January to prepare himself for the five-match T20I series against West Indies later this month. He will now join England’s Test squad in Sydney after a period of isolation and a negative Covid-19 Test.
Billings averages 34.29 in First-class cricket, with six centuries. He has played 33 T20Is and 25 ODIs for England, scoring 417 and 607 runs respectively.
The fifth and the last Ashes Test match will begin on 14 January, in Hobart.