New Zealand are set to welcome Trent Boult back for the series-deciding Second Test against England, but captain Kane Williamson is a doubt.
Last week’s First Test at Lord’s ended in a draw after an entire day’s play was lost to rain, with England opting against trying to chase down 273 for victory on the final day.
Boult missed that match after opting to spend time with his family following the conclusion of the curtailed Indian Premier League season, and was expected to sit out the entire series, before returning for the World Test Championship final against India at Southampton later this month.
However, a relaxing in quarantine restrictions mean the seamer is available sooner than expected and will likely replace one of Tim Southee, Kyle Jamieson and Neil Wagner for this week’s match at Edgbaston.
There will be at least one other change to the New Zealand line-up, with spinner Mitchell Santner ruled out with a cut finger, while Williamson is being monitored having struggled with an elbow injury, with a decision to be taken over his fitness on Wednesday.
England will also be forced to make at least one alteration after Ollie Robinson was suspended from international cricket over a series of historic offensive tweets which emerged during his First Test debut.
Craig Overton and Oli Stone are in contention, as is spinner Jack Leach, should England choose to tinker with the balance of their lineup, but none of their IPL contingent - including the likes of Ben Stokes, Jos Buttler, Sam Curran and Chris Woakes - are available.
