ENG vs NZ: New Zealand’s Michael Bracewell In Isolation After Testing Positive For Covid-19

New Zealand’s Michael Bracewell tested positive for COVID-19 just a day after the second Test against England at Trent Bridge ended and has been moved into isolation. He joins captain Kane Williamson who had tested positive in the lead-up to the just-concluded second Test.

New Zealand was decimated on day five while defending a tough target of 299 runs as England’s Jonny Bairstow made 136 in 92 balls with 14 fours and 7 sixes to his name, and captain Ben Stokes hammered 75* with 10 fours and 4 sixes, as England chased down the total in 50 overs and five wickets to spare to win the match.

With this win, England went 2-0 up in the three-match series and New Zealand just received some bad news on the fitness and health front.

Michael Bracewell In Isolation After Contracting COVID-19

Michael Bracewell has made his New Zealand Test debut in the recently concluded match and it was revealed that he tested positive for COVID-19 a day after the match concluded.

“Bracewell undertook a Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) after waking up with symptoms. He will require five days of isolation before rejoining the group ahead of the final Test at Headingley in Leeds starting Thursday June 23,” an official statement read.

The rest of the Kiwi squad will be tested today (Wednesday, June 15) and “will continue following the tour health protocols of symptom reporting and subsequent testing if required.” New Zealand hasn’t sought a replacement player.

Meanwhile, they will be without the services of pacer Kyle Jamieson, who will return home after suffering from a stress reaction in his lower back, meaning he will miss next week’s third and final Test at Headingley.

MRI scans revealed the extent of his injury after Jamieson pulled up mid-over experiencing sharp pain in his lower back on the third evening of the second Test and he didn’t return to the field until the fifth morning after being passed fit to bat, coming into New Zealand’s second innings at No.10 but exiting for a six-ball duck.

He didn’t bowl as England hammered New Zealand by achieving the 299-run target in a stunning display of aggressive batting.

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