New Zealand captain Kane Williamson out of second Test with Covid

New Zealand captain Kane Williamson will miss the second Test against England at Trent Bridge on Friday after the Black Caps captain tested positive for Covid-19 on the eve of the match.
New Zealand Cricket said Williamson used a rapid antigen test after experiencing minor symptoms and he has begun five days of isolation.
Coach Gary Stead confirmed Hamish Rutherford would join the squad as Williamson’s replacement, and Tom Latham will captain the side in Williamson’s absence.
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
“It’s such a shame for Kane to be forced to withdraw on the eve of such an important match,” Stead 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 Vitality T20 Blast.”
The rest of the touring party have returned negative rapid antigen test results and will continue following the tour health protocols of symptom reporting and subsequent testing if required.
Williamson’s side are fighting to keep the series alive in Nottingham this week and his absence is a blow to their hopes of levelling the scores.
England triumphed over New Zealand in the first Test at Lord’s with a match-winning century from former captain Joe Root.
Latest
-
News
Durham sign Australian spinner Matt Kuhnemann for 2023 season
The 26-year-old made his Test debut against India last month
-
News
Matthew Potts: Durham out to put ‘haters to bed’ with entertaining approach
Potts says the county are looking to ‘mirror to some extent what the England team are doing’.
-
News
Teenager Phoebe Litchfield named in Australia’s squad for Women’s Ashes
The 19-year-old’s inclusion is the only change from the squad that won the Twenty20 World Cup last month.
-
England
Survivors group criticises ECB over ‘lack of transparency’ around Hyam report
Matthew Hyam was sentenced to two years and four months’ imprisonment in September 2021.
-
Big Bash League
‘Outstanding candidate’ Peter Moores to lead Melbourne Stars in Big Bash
Moores becomes the only overseas head coach in Australia’s T20 competition.
-
The Ashes
England captain Ben Stokes to manage fitness during IPL ahead of Ashes
Stokes has already started work with Chennai Super Kings, who signed him for a bumper £1.6million in December.
-
The Hundred
Mike Hussey hoping gamble on Pakistan ‘big stars’ pays dividends for Welsh Fire
Pace duo Shaheen Shah Afridi and Haris Rauf were snapped up during last week’s Hundred draft.
-
Scotland
Cricket Scotland anti-racism group members quit over perceived lack of progress
Cricket Scotland chairman Anjan Luthra last week claimed progress was being made.
-
South Africa
Johnson Charles and Quinton de Kock make history in record Proteas run chase
Charles posted the fastest T20I century by a West Indian.
-
West Indies
Johnson Charles smashes Chris Gayle’s record for West Indies’ fastest T20 ton
Charles hammered 118 from 46 balls against South Africa, reaching three figures from 39 deliveries.