Kane Williamson tests positive, set to miss the second Test against England

New Zealand captain Kane Williamson is set to miss the second Test match against England after testing positive for COVID-19 last night. 

Hamish Rutherford has been added to the New Zealand squad for the second Test in Nottingham as a replacement for Williamson. 

Williamson felt minor symptoms the day before the Test match and went through the Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) last night. Unfortunately, he tested positive, with the rest of the squad members returning a negative test. 

Henry Nicholls, Blair Tickner and Shane Jurgensen from the New Zealand squad tested positive and were forced to isolate in Brighton just before the warm-up match against Sussex last month. 

Kane, who missed the entire New Zealand summer due to an injury, made his comeback in the first Test against England at Lord's and is now set to miss another Test match as he will commence five days of isolation after testing positive for Covid-19. 

The rest of the squad members will continue to follow the tour health protocols of symptom reporting and more testing if required.

"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," Coach Gary Stead told NZC.

"The rest of the team have test negative tonight and are available at this stage for the match," he added. 

Tom Latham will take over the side's captaincy in Williamson's absence, as he did during the summer against South Africa and Bangladesh. 

Meanwhile, Hamish Rutherford, currently playing for Leicestershire in the T20 Blast, is coming in as a replacement for Williamson and will join the Blackcaps in Nottingham ahead of the second Test on Friday morning. 

New Zealand will be looking to bounce back in the second Test at Trent Bridge as England is 1-0 in the three-match series following a five-wicket win over the Kiwis at Lord's last week.