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Jordan Cox grimaces and holds his side after playing a shot against Somerset - Harry Trump/Getty Images
Two days after his England Test call-up, Jordan Cox is again sweating on his fitness after suffering a side strain while scoring a century for Essex.
Cox broke his finger in New Zealand just days before he was due to make his Test debut in Christchurch in place of Jamie Smith, who missed the tour to be at the birth of his first child.
Cox was injured in the nets in Queenstown forcing England into a reshuffle that saw Ollie Pope move to wicketkeeper and Jacob Bethell play Test cricket – seizing his opportunity.
England have remained loyal to Cox and picked him as the spare batsman for the Zimbabwe Test at Trent Bridge later this month where Pope will return to No 3 while Bethell is at the Indian Premier League. Smith will keep wicket again.
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Cox receives medical attention at Taunton after suffering his injury - Harry Trump/Getty Images
Cox has been in good touch this summer with his 103 at Taunton against Somerset on Sunday, his second County Championship hundred of the season. But he fell to the ground clutching his left side just above the hip after moving to 99 with a quick single off Jack Leach. He had been feeling the area while batting and needed treatment before getting back to his feet to hit a four off Leach to reach his hundred. He immediately retired hurt and took no further part in the Essex innings. He did not field in the Somerset second innings.
If Cox is ruled out of the Zimbabwe Test it would be bitterly disappointing, and unlucky, for a player who has been close to selection several times before. He was picked in the squad for a T20 tour to Pakistan in 2022 but did not play. His father was on his way to Heathrow when Cox called him to tell him about his tour-ending injury in New Zealand in December.
The presence of Harry Brook and Joe Root for their only championship match before the Test summer starts did little to lift Yorkshire, who were beaten by Warwickshire at Headingley.
Root made 90 in Yorkshire’s second innings on Saturday, with Brook scoring 33 and 20 in the game, but it was a poor performance against Warwickshire, who won by five wickets. “It’s difficult for them both [Root and Brook]. We know they’re world-class players, but you can practice as much as you want – it does take a bit of time to get your rhythm in the middle. But Joe was superb in that second innings,” said Anthony McGrath, the Yorkshire coach.
To make matters worse, Yorkshire were docked a point for a low over rate. “We were nearly there on occasions, but a little bit soft with both bat and ball,” added McGrath. “We’ve shown signs of that through the season, and we’ve got to stamp that out, particularly in Division One, because against teams that are used to that, you’ve just got to sustain periods of pressure for longer.”
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