New Zealand will be without their captain, Kane Williamson, for the Second Test against England at Edgbaston tomorrow, with Tom Latham stepping in to lead the side.
Williamson is the second Kiwi player to be ruled out with injury, with a long-standing elbow problem the cause for his absence. Mitchell Santner, the spin-bowling all-rounder, also misses out with a finger injury sustained at Lord’s.
Williamson will be replaced by Will Young, who has been playing in the County Championship with Durham and made his Test debut in December.
New Zealand coach Gary Stead said the Black Caps were taking no risks, with the World Test Championship final against India next week.
“It’s not an easy decision for Kane to have to miss a Test, but we think it’s the right one,” said Stead.“He’s had an injection in his elbow to relieve the irritation he’s been experiencing when he bats and a period of rest and rehabilitation will help maximise his recovery.
“The decision has been made very much with the ICC World Test Championship Final at Southampton in mind and we are confident he will be ready for that match starting on June 18.”
Trent Boult is set to return to the team having arrived in the UK late, with the seam attack that performed so well in the First Test to be rotated with the final on the horizon.
