Michael Bracewell tests positive for Covid, faces five-day isolation period

Michael Bracewell, the New Zealand allrounder, and two members of the support staff* have tested positive for Covid, and are undergoing five days of isolation ahead of next week's third LV= Insurance Test against England at Headingley.

Bracewell undertook a Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) after waking up with symptoms in Nottingham, on the morning after England's thrilling five-wicket victory in the second Test at Trent Bridge.

The rest of the touring party underwent another round of tests on Wednesday, with team physio Vijay Vallabh and strength and conditioning coach Chris Donaldson also testing positive on arrival in London. No others members of the tour party tested positive at this stage and, with eight days until the start of the Headingley Test, no replacement player is being called up at this stage.

The news came as Kane Williamson, New Zealand's captain, rejoined the tour party after serving his own five-day period of isolation, having test positive on the eve of the same match.

Williamson's positive test was a key reason why Bracewell was chosen to make his Test debut at Trent Bridge, and he impressed with both bat and ball in the course of the contest, making scores of 49 and 25 in his two innings, as well as three first-innings wickets with his offspin.