Photo Credit: New Zealand Cricket
BLACKCAPS captain Kane Williamson will miss the second Test against England in Nottingham on Friday, after testing positive for Covid-19 the night before the match.
Williamson undertook a Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) after experiencing minor symptoms during the day and will now begin five days of isolation.
The rest of the touring party have returned negative RATs and will continue following the tour health protocols of symptom reporting and subsequent testing if required.
Coach Gary Stead confirmed Hamish Rutherford would join the squad tomorrow morning as Williamson’s replacement.
“It’s such a shame for Kane to be forced to withdraw on the eve of such an important match,” he said.
“We’re all feeling for him at this time and know how disappointed he will be.
“Hamish was with the Test squad earlier in the tour and has been playing for the Leicestershire Foxes in the T20 Vitality Blast.”
Tom Latham will captain the side in Williamson’s absence.
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.
