Kane Williamson out of Trent Bridge Test after coming down with Covid

The Kiwi skipper will sit out the game, with Tom Latham leading the Blackcaps in his place

Kane Williamson has been ruled out of the second Test between England and New Zealand after returning a positive Covid-19 test.

Williamson experienced minor symptoms the day before the scheduled start of the encounter and returned a positive rapid antigen test. The rest of the touring party have returned negative tests.

The Kiwi skipper will sit out the game at Trent Bridge, with Tom Latham leading the Blackcaps in his place.

Hamish Rutherford, who has been playing for Leicestershire in the T20 Blast, will be restored to the New Zealand squad.

"It's such a shame for Kane to be forced to withdraw on the eve of such an important match," head coach Gary Stead said.

^{Kane Williamson at training on Thursday [Getty Images]}

"We're all feeling for him at this time and know how disappointed he will be."

New Zealand are looking to level the series in Nottingham, having been beated by five wickets at Lord's last week.

Williamson had earlier on Thursday spoken to the media, giving an impassioned defence of Test cricket in the wake of comments by ICC chair Greg Barclay, in which he suggested that the format was bound for a natural decline in the years to come.

Williamson said: "We love our Test cricket, as do all nations who have the opportunity to play it.

"It's the pinnacle of the sport and we want to see more of it. With the other formats, which are also great, the interest continues to grow.

"There's a number of people who have to make decisions [on the future scheduling of series] but there’s certainly a love for it among Test nations."

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