ENG vs NZ: Unwell Ben Stokes misses England training ahead of 3rd Test against New Zealand
ENG vs NZ: England skipper Ben Stokes was absent from training on Tuesday due to illness as his team began their preparations for the Headingley Test.
While Stokes was absent, the rest of the squad exercised ahead of Thursday’s first day of the three-match series’ final Test.
Stokes tested negative for Covid-19 on Tuesday morning, according to reports.
As a precaution, Stokes kept away from the rest of the group.
The 31-year-old, who is captaining his debut Test series, will be evaluated again before Wednesday’s net session.
Marcus Trescothick, England’s batting coach, tested positive for Covid later that day.
The ECB said Trescothick is “currently in isolation at home and is being monitored daily. Details of his return to the England set-up will be announced in due course.”
In England’s second Test triumph over New Zealand at Trent Bridge, Stokes scored 75 from 70 balls in the second innings.
That was England’s second consecutive victory over the world champions in Test cricket, giving them their first Test series victory since January 2021.
Over the last few weeks, New Zealand’s squad has had multiple positive Covid cases.
Kane Williamson, the Black Caps captain, forced to withdraw from the second Test after testing positive on the eve of the match in Nottingham.
Since arriving in England, the visitors have had positive results from Henry Nicholls, Devon Conway, Michael Bracewell, and two members of their backroom team.
All four players fit and ready to play this week at Leeds.
While England hopes to avoid a Covid breakout, Jamie and Craig Overton, twin brothers, are hoping to play together for the hosts at Headingley.
With the series already won, the 6ft 5in seam-bowling siblings are ready to go if England want to rotate their pace assault.
It’s unfamiliar terrain for Jamie, who is three minutes younger than Craig and has never played before, while Craig hopes to add to his eight caps.
The two have played together many times over the years with North Devon, Somerset, and England Under-19s. But it was only a few days ago that they faced off in first-class cricket for the first time.
Jamie, who moved to Surrey from Taunton in 2020. He hit his brother in the head with a quick bouncer during a County Championship match last week. That resulted in a delayed diagnosis of concussion.
“I think any sibling rivalry is always going to have a bit of extra spice. And me and Craig are probably even spicier than most people,” Jamie said.
“The family obviously didn’t like seeing Craig on the floor. But I think they would have told us off if we weren’t giving our all.”
Despite their physical confrontation. Craig insisted that if only one of them chosen this week, there would be no bitter feelings.
“It’s been like that since we were 16 years old. My first game of first-class cricket we were competing for the same spot and I ended up playing,” he said.
“We’d both said to each other ‘whatever happens, we’ll be supportive’ and we’ve always been like that. We want what’s best for the team. And if that means one of us misses out, that’s the way it is.”
(With AFP Inputs)
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