Cox's debut on ice after cruel blow

INJURY MAY SEE POPE WARILY TAKE GLOVES

- Rory Dollard

BRENDON MCCULLUM says he is "gutted" that Jordan Cox's dream debut has been wrecked by injury days before the first Test against New Zealand.

Cox had been earmarked Test debut in for a Christchurch on Wednesday night UK time, filling the wicketkeeping vacancy left by Jamie Smith, who is back at home awaiting the birth of his first child.

But heartache struck for the 24-year-old when he was hit on the right glove, as he batted in the warm-ups on the second morning of their two-day preparatory match in Queenstown.

Cox was sent for X-rays after the pain failed to settle and received the bad news that he had broken his thumb.