New Zealand captain, Kane Williamson tests Covid-positive and will miss the second Test against England, which begins on Friday at Trent Bridge.
On the eve of the match, New Zealand head coach Gary Stead provided an update on the charismatic captain of the World Test Championship side, stating that Hamish Rutherford will take his spot in the squad as Williamson tests Covid-positive .
Coach Gary Stead confirms Williamson tests Covid-positive
NZC (New Zealand Cricket) tweeted: “After testing positive for Covid-19 the night before the match, coach Gary Stead has confirmed that captain Kane Williamson will miss the second Test against England in Nottingham on Friday. In the #ENGvNZ team, Hamish Rutherford will take his spot.”
After having minimal symptoms during the day, Williamson underwent a Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) and will now spend five days in isolation after Williamson tests Covid-positive, according to NZC.
The rest of the tour has received negative RATs and will continue to follow the tour’s health guidelines, which include symptom reporting and testing as needed.
In a video uploaded on the NZC website, Stead remarked, “It’s such a tragedy for Kane to be forced to withdraw on the eve of such a crucial match.”
“We’re all worried about him right now, and we know how disappointed he’ll be. Hamish was a member of the Test team earlier in the tour and is currently playing in the T20 Vitality Blast for Leicestershire Foxes “Stead added.
After Williamson tests Covid-positive, Tom Latham will captain the team.
New Zealand had lost the first game of the three-match series at Lord’s by five wickets, with former England captain Joe Root reaching an undefeated century, while Williamson produced two below-par innings.