England have called up Durham wicketkeeper Ollie Robinson for the Test series in New Zealand after Jordan Cox was ruled out of the tour with injury.
Cox was due to replace Jamie Smith (paternity leave) in the three games against the Black Caps but suffered a broken finger in the nets before the warm-up.
That allowed vice-captain Ollie Pope to feature as a wicketkeeper in the opener in Christchurch and 21-year-old Jacob Bethel to make his debut as a specialist batsman, but Robinson will now be in Wellington for next week’s second Test.
The 25-year-old, who is due to arrive in New Zealand on Saturday, has been prolific with the bat since moving from his native Kent to Durham, hitting 1,802 county championships in the previous two campaigns.
Robinson averaged 48.38 this summer and 60 in 2023, with a strike rate of over 80 in both seasons.
During that time, the right-hander also made 92 disposals with gloves.
Robinson turns 26 on Sunday and, oddly enough, shares a birthday with his namesake Ollie Robinson, the Sussex bowler who took 76 wickets in 20 Tests for England but now seems to have done well.
The players, who are not related, were both born in Kent; wicketkeeper Robison at Sidcup and bowling at Margate.
