Huge setback for New Zealand ahead of the second Test vs England
After winning the first Test match at Lord’s, England are getting ready to face New Zealand in the second Test match of the series. However, the Kiwis faced an early blow ahead of this match as their captain, Kane Williamson tested Covid-19 positive on the eve of the match. On Thursday (9 June 2022), Williamson took a Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) as he was experiencing some mild symptoms. But, now after getting tested positive, he needs to begin his isolation period of five days.
In his absence, Tom Latham will lead the team, and as his replacement, Hamish Rutherford has been drafted into the squad. He will join the squad in Nottingham on Friday morning. Gary Stead, New Zealand’s head coach also shared his disappointment.
“We’re all feeling for him at this time and know how disappointed he will be.” – Gary Stead
The Kiwi head coach said: “It’s such a shame for Kane to be forced to withdraw on the eve of such an important match,” Gary Stead, New Zealand head coach, 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.”
Here is the video regarding this huge update from the official account of Blackcaps:
UPDATE: Coach Gary Stead confirms 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. Hamish Rutherford will replace him in the squad #ENGvNZ pic.twitter.com/9B0a9zt9JU
— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) June 9, 2022
The rest of the Kiwi players returned negative and continued the tour health protocols of symptom reporting. This is not the first time when Covid disrupted New Zealand’s tour as Henry Nicholls, Blair Tickner, and Shane Jurgensen were forced to isolate after testing positive in Brighton ahead of the opening warm-up match against Sussex. The Kiwis are also in a spot of bother regarding their final Team selection as Colin de Grandhomme will not be available also after suffering an injury in the last match.
Speaking about Williamson’s recent form, He scored only two and 15 runs respectively in both innings of the first Test match while, in the warm-up fixture, he scored a duck. He also came to England with a very bad Indian T20 Leauge season behind his back for his Hyderabad franchise. He failed to lead them to the playoffs and personally, managed o score only 216 runs at an average of 19.63.
