Sam Billings in line to make England Test debut in Hobart after Bairstow and Buttler pick up blows

Sam Billings is in line to make his Test debut in Hobart next week after he was called up to the England squad less than two hours before he was due to leave Australia.

The Kent captain, who has been playing for Sydney Thunder in the Big Bash League, has been brought in to help alleviate England's injury woes with Ben Stokes, Jos Buttler and Jonny Bairstow all doubtful for the final match in the series.

Billings was booked on a flight to leave Brisbane on Friday to prepare for England's T20 series in the West Indies before he was diverted to Sydney just 90 minutes before he was due to leave.

The 30 year-old rented a car, as a Covid precaution, to drive more than 500 miles in a nine-hour long journey along the eastern coast to join up with the squad and now faces being handed the gloves on Friday.

"I thought it was a joke. I was due to go to Brisbane airport to fly home, instead I went to Gold Coast airport to pick up a rental car and I was on my way," Billings told Test Match Special.

"It's been quite a long drive, I'm not going to lie. People don't realise how big Australia is. It really is vast. It's a motorway through lots of trees, hills and rivers. It's been pleasant - better than the M25."

His arrival comes after both England's wicketkeeping options sustained suspected broken digits during the Sydney Test.

Buttler, who currently has the gloves, has averaged just 16 with the bat and dropped a number of catches behind the stumps in this series to-date.

His Ashes woes were further compounded on day two at the SCG when he suffered a blow to his left index finger while keeping wicket.

Meanwhile, Bairstow, who has not been shy in pushing his own case to keep wicket, had his thumb hit in crunching fashion by a rising delivery from Australian quick Pat Cummins while batting on day three.

Bairstow, who has averaged 10 more runs batting over the last five years when he has also been the designated keeper, was able to resume batting on day four, when he was eventually dismissed for 113, but was unable to keep.

Instead, Ollie Pope, who was dropped in favour of Bairstow after the second Ashes Test, stepped in to keep wicket as a substitute fielder during the second innings at the SCG.

Billings is yet to make his Test debut for England, despite making 25 one-day international appearances and being capped 33 times in Twenty20 internationals.

He heads to Hobart in good form from his time with the Thunder, ending his stint in the BBL as the fourth-highest run-scorer, averaging 41 across his nine innings.