Three Kiwi players test Covid-19 positive ahead of England Test series

As many as three members of the New Zealand touring party for the scheduled three-Test series against England have returned positive for Covid-19 ahead of the first game, slated to be held at Lord’s from June 2.

Top-order batter Henry Nicholls, right-arm pacer Blair Tickner and bowling coach Shane Jurgensen have tested positive for the virus and will be in five days of hotel room isolation.

New Zealand Cricket (NZC) issued a statement on Friday saying: “Three of the BLACKCAPS touring party are in isolation after testing positive for Covid-19 on the morning of the first warm-up match against Sussex in Brighton. Henry Nicholls, Blair Tickner and bowling coach Shane Jurgensen have begun five days of hotel room isolation after producing positive Rapid Antigen Tests this (Friday) morning.”

The statement also said that New Zealand’s scheduled four-day warm-up game against Sussex will go ahead as per the schedule, adding that all other members of the touring party had tested negative in the test.

“The remainder of the tour party have now all been tested and returned negative results. The four-day warm-up match will go ahead as planned,” said NZC in the statement.

New Zealand will play a second warm-up against County Select XI from May 26-29 before the Lord’s Test. The teams will then face off in the second Test at Trent Bridge (June 101-4), followed by the final game at Headingley (June 23-27).

England, meanwhile, will be buoyed by the inclusion of pace bowling stalwarts James Anderson and Stuart Broad and all-rounder Ben Stokes being elevated as Test captain. England have also appointed New Zealander Brendon McCullum as their new Test team head coach.

News Desk

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