Kane Williamson
Kane Williamson (Credits: Twitter)

New Zealand will be without Kane Williamson for the upcoming second Test against England after their skipper tested positive for COVID-19 on the night before the game. With Williamson out of action, Tom Latham will lead New Zealand in the crucial game.

Hamish Rutherford has been added to the squad as Williamson’s replacement. The New Zealand superstar took a Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) after experiencing minor symptoms on Thursday, and will now begin five days of isolation.

Expressing his disappointment over the turn of events, New Zealand head coach Gary Stead said:

“It’s such a shame for Kane to be forced to withdraw on the eve of such an important match. We’re all feeling for him at this time and know how disappointed he will be.

Tom Latham
Tom Latham (Credits: Twitter)

“Hamish was with the Test squad earlier in the tour and has been playing for the Leicestershire Foxes in the Vitality T20 Blast,” he added.

This is not the first time New Zealand’s plans have been disrupted by Covid-19 during the ongoing tour. Few days before the start of the series, three members from the touring party – Henry Nicholls, Blair Tickner and Shane Jurgensen – were forced to isolate after testing positive in Brighton.

New Zealand eye series-levelling win:

New Zealand are currently trailing in the three-match series after losing the series-opener at the Lord’s. England had defeated the visitors by 5 wickets in a topsy-turvy encounter to take the lead in the series. Missing Kane Williamson for such a crucial game will be a huge blow for New Zealand.

Kane Williamson
Kane Williamson (Credits: Twitter)

It would be a big blow for Williamson too who has missed several Tests for his team in recent months due to injury. Prior to the ongoing series, he had missed New Zealand’s previous five Tests due to a tendon injury in his left elbow. He missed one Test during the tour of India in November last year before missing the four home Tests against Bangladesh and South Africa.

New Zealand will also miss the services of their star allrounder Colin de Grandhomme for the upcoming game. De Grandhomme is out of the entire series after suffering a heel injury.