Jordan Cox’s place in the England Test squad to face Zimbabwe later this month is in doubt with the batter forced to retire hurt immediately after scoring a century for Essex.

Cox, named in a 13-strong group for England’s Trent Bridge Test from May 22-25, fell to the ground clutching his left side after reaching 99 against Somerset in the Rothesay County Championship and left the field in pain once he had ticked off three figures.

The 24-year-old was denied a Test debut in New Zealand over the winter after breaking his thumb in the nets when poised to deputise for Jamie Smith – who was on paternity leave at the time – as wicketkeeper-batter for Ben Stokes’ team.

Cox will be hoping an injury curse has not struck again, although he seemed set to play the role of spare batter with Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Stokes – if fully over his hamstring issue – and Smith poised to comprise the top seven.

Stokes’ Durham team-make Ben McKinney, 20, was heavily linked with a call-up to the squad to take on Zimbabwe, so may come into the selectors’ thoughts if Cox is ruled out.

England’s sole Test against the African side is followed by five at home to India, starting at Headingley on June 20, and then an away Ashes series in Australia from November 21, beginning in Perth.

England Test squad to face Zimbabwe: Ben Stokes (Durham) – captain, Gus Atkinson (Surrey), Shoaib Bashir (Somerset), Harry Brook (Yorkshire), Sam Cook (Essex), Jordan Cox (Essex), Zak Crawley (Kent), Ben Duckett (Nottinghamshire), Ollie Pope (Surrey), Matthew Potts (Durham), Joe Root (Yorkshire), Jamie Smith (Surrey), Josh Tongue (Nottinghamshire)

Watch England’s one-off, four-day Test against Zimbabwe, live on Sky Sports Cricket from 10am (11am first ball) on Thursday May 22.

England men’s Test matches this summer ☀️

All games at 11am UK and Ireland; all live on Sky Sports

• vs Zimbabwe: Thursday May 22-Sunday May 25 – Trent Bridge
• vs India: Friday June 20-Tuesday June 24 – Headingley
• vs India: Wednesday July 2-Sunday July 6 – Edgbaston
• vs India: Thursday July 10-Monday July 14 – Lord’s
• vs India: Wednesday July 23-Sunday July 27 – Emirates Old Trafford
• vs India: Thursday July 31-Monday August 4 – The Kia Oval

Ashes series in Australia 2025-26 🏏

All times UK and Ireland

• First Test: Friday November 21-Tuesday November 25 (2.30am) – Optus Stadium, Perth
• Second Test: Thursday December 4-Monday December 8 (4.30am) – The Gabba, Brisbane
• Third Test: Wednesday December 17-Sunday December 21 (12am) – Adelaide Oval
• Fourth Test: Thursday December 25-Monday December 29 (11.30pm) – Melbourne Cricket Ground
• Fifth Test: Sunday January 4-Thursday January 8 (11.30pm) – Sydney Cricket Ground