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Jamie Smith Pulls Out Of 2nd Test vs New Zealand; ECB Names Replacement

Aakash Saini

Jamie Smith [Source: AFP]Jamie Smith [Source: AFP]

Jamie Smith has officially pulled out of the England squad ahead of their second Test of the three-match home series against New Zealand. After days of speculation, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) confirmed the development on Tuesday, June 16.

Smith has opted to spend time with his family following the birth of his second child. Just a day prior to the second Test, the ECB has now confirmed the cricketer’s replacement. 

ECB name uncapped star as Jamie Smith’s replacement 

Just a day before the second Test of the series against New Zealand, the ECB named uncapped wicketkeeper-batter James Rew as a replacement of Jamie Smith. The board also confirmed that Rew will be making his international debut in the match, and will be donning the wicketkeeping gloves in the absence of the senior Surrey cricketer. 

Jamie Smith played the first Test of the series at Lord’s earlier this month against New Zealand. The 26-year-old registered scores of just 1 and 39 across both innings of the match, with England winning it by 115 runs to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.

Who is James Rew?

James Rew, born in London, is a Somerset cricketer through and through since his younger days. Aged 22, the dynamic wicketkeeper-batter has played 64 first class matches in his career so far. 

He has registered 3,921 runs in 107 innings at an average of 41.71, punching out 12 hundreds and 17 fifties in the process. Only last week, the left-handed batter charted a match-winning half-century in Somerset’s away County Championship Division One match against the Nottinghamshire in Nottingham, scoring 50 runs off 105 balls with six boundaries. 

Rew has also played 44 List A games, and 18 T20 matches, charting over 2,000 runs across both formats combined. 

James Rew among three debutants, Joe Root to lead

James Rew is not the only England player set to make his debut in the second Test of the series against New Zealand. While the young wicketkeeper-batter replaced Jamie Smith, the ECB also named fellow stumper Jordan Cox and Hampshire fast bowler Sonny Baker in the playing XI earlier this week.

Both Cox and Baker will be making their Test debuts, and the ECB additionally recalled Jofra Archer and Matthew Fisher for their respective Test returns.

Legendary batter Joe Root will be leading the team in place of ousted Ben Stokes following the latter’s involvement in last week’s night club incident with Gus Atkinson. Here is a look at England’s complete playing XI for the second Test against New Zealand.

England playing XI for 2nd Test vs NZ: Joe Root (c), Jofra Archer, Sonny Baker, Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook, Jordan Cox, Ben Duckett, Matt Fisher, Emilio Gay, James Rew (wk) and Josh Tongue. 

With a 1-0 lead in the pocket, hosts England will now face New Zealand at The Oval in London between June 17 and June 21 this week.

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