Photo Credit: New Zealand Cricket
The majority of the BLACKCAPS Test contingent touched down in London on Sunday afternoon (UK time) after flying from Auckland via Singapore.
The players and support staff were transferred from London Heathrow airport to the Ageas Bowl in Southampton where they will be based for the first two weeks of the tour.
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the BLACKCAPS are adhering to strict health protocols including pre-departure vaccinations and covid tests, along with receiving medical bags equipped with masks and hand sanitizer.
While in England they will operate in a ‘controlled team environment’ to limit outside contact and risk of transmission. All tour members will complete a daily self-reported health screening as well as undergoing regular covid testing.
The first three days will be spent in hotel room isolation, before mini training groups of six can be established from days 4-6, pending negative covid results.
Tim Southee, BJ Watling, Ross Taylor and Neil Wagner will depart Auckland on Monday afternoon (NZ time) to join the squad in Southampton.
The Maldives-based IPL contingent of captain Kane Williamson, Kyle Jamieson, Mitchell Santner, team physio Tommy Simsek and trainer Chris Donaldson will arrive on Monday (UK time).
After a successful County Championship stint with Durham, batsman Will Young will also link up with the team on Monday and undergo isolation at the Ageas Bowl before joining his teammates for training.
A three-day team intra-squad game is scheduled from Wednesday May 26 to Friday May 28 at the Ageas Bowl, where six local bowlers who have isolated in advance will help make up the sides.
Trent Boult will finish his managed isolation on Sunday and return to Mount Maunganui to see his family before a plan is made around his departure to the UK.
BLACKCAPS Test squad for England Tests
Kane Williamson (c)
Tom Blundell
Trent Boult
Doug Bracewell
Devon Conway
Colin de Grandhomme
Jacob Duffy
Matt Henry
Kyle Jamieson
Tom Latham
Daryl Mitchell
Henry Nicholls
Ajaz Patel
Rachin Ravindra
Mitchell Santner
Tim Southee
Ross Taylor
Neil Wagner
BJ Watling (wk)
Will Young
Name of Author: New Zealand Cricket
The New Zealand national cricket team, known as the Black Caps, made their Test debut in 1930 against England in Christchurch, becoming the fifth nation to play Test cricket. After waiting 26 years for their first Test win against the West Indies in 1956, they also played their first ODI in 1972–73 against Pakistan. New Zealand are the inaugural World Test Championship champions (2021) and have won the ICC Champions Trophy (2000). They have reached the Cricket World Cup final twice and the T20 World Cup final once.
