New Zealand Test Players From Maldives To Leave For UK On Weekend After Delayed Departure; Trent Boult Likely To Miss First England Test: Gary Stead

Gary Stead, the New Zealand head coach, has all but confirmed that the UK-bound Kiwi players who are in the Maldives currently will leave by this weekend, while Trent Boult is likely to miss the first Test – and probably the second, too – against England as he returned home.

After the suspension of the IPL 2021, 3 Kiwi Test players – Kane Williamson, Mitchell Santner, Kyle Jamieson – along with physio Tommy Simsek flew to the Maldives and were initially supposed to do the quarantine only for three or four days, however, it was extended by a week.

The Black Caps will take on hosts England in a 2-Test series starting June 2, followed by the World Test Championship final against India on June 18 in Southampton.

Gary Stead says they are yet to learn about the quarantine ruled placed for the players, as they would now be coming into the UK from the Maldives after more than a week of leaving India, which the British government has placed on red-list owing to its rising covid-19 cases.

“I don’t know all the details right now. My understanding is that they are looking to leave (Maldives) somewhere around the time that we leave — May 15, 16 or 17 — in that time frame.

“My understanding is that England board is still working through the final details of what it means to come through the Maldives as supposed to New Zealand. They can still work on their fitness. So I don’t see it as a bad thing. It’s an adapting world and I think that’s just something we’ve got to keep doing,” Gary Stead was quoted by ESPNcricinfo as saying.

We are working for his readiness for the WTC final: Gary Stead

While the abovementioned 3 players went to the Maldives and will leave for England from there, spearhead pacer Trent Boult decided to go back to New Zealand to be with his family.

The Mumbai Indians seamer is currently in quarantine in New Zealand and will link up for about a week with his family before flying to the UK. With the quarantine protocols in the UK for incoming passengers, he is almost certain to miss out on the first Test against Joe Root’s side and could be unavailable for the second Test as well.

Gary Stead says he understands that Boult needed refreshment after the IPL and respects his decision to return to his family. While there are uncertainties around the pacer’s availability for England Tests, he will be featuring in the WTC final versus Virat Kohli’s side.

“Everyone has got their reasons around it. India changed very, very quickly, over the space of two or three days, and there were options put in front of the guys and he (Boult) felt for him and his mental health, the best thing he could do was get home for a while.

“He is a professional, he has been there in the international circuit for a long time now. He will be ready. We are working through what build-up looks like to him and his readiness for the World Test Championship final when he comes back to us,” the 49-year-old further added.

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