The New Zealand national cricket team along with all the Olympic bound athletes will be vaccinated due to "reasons of national significance" in the Kiwi nation’s first vaccine drive against the deadly novel-coronavirus.
Colin de Grandhomme, who missed the whole home summer of Test cricket mainly due to not being able to bowl, has returned to the fire after successful ankle surgery. He is most likely to be included in the Blackcaps scheme of things on the England tour where the team plays two Tests against England before taking on India in the inaugural World Test Championship.
"Since I've had the surgery the ankle has felt really good and it seems to keep getting better and it feels normal again for a change," de Grandhomme, 34 said on the sidelines of his first practice session in Mount Maunganui. "Looks like I'm tracking well at the moment and should be ready to go for ball one if I'm needed," added Zimbabwe born.
With England making India a red list country, the four Kiwi Test squad members in skipper Kane Williamson, Mitchell Santner, Trent Boult and Kyle Jamieson, not getting vaccinated is a prime concern. The players from India would most likely require to undergo an extended period of quarantine in England.
Neil Wagner, who would be a lethal option in England has also started training with the duke ball and was seen warming up in Maunganui after being vaccinated alongside de Grandhomee. "It's got a little bit different characteristics to what a Kookaburra does so just trying to get used to it and adapting to the different things we'll come across in England," Wagner said about how he is going to adapt to the English duke ball and the conditions. "[It's about] not getting too far ahead of yourself with a Duke ball that tends to swing around a little bit and try too hard,” he added.