New Zealand all-rounder Michael Bracewell tests positive for COVID-19

After England’s glorious victory over New Zealand in the second Test at Trent Bridge in Nottingham, the Kiwi all-rounder Michael Bracewell tested positive for the novel coronavirus on Wednesday (June 15), a day after the final day of the second Test concluded. Bracewell was a part of the playing combination for New Zealand’s side.

Bracewell had made his debut in the second Test but ended on the losing side as the hosts handed the visitors a five-wicket defeat on the final day of the Test. Bracewell became the second player from the squad to have tested positive for the Covid-19 virus following skipper Kane Williamson. As a result, the skipper had to pull out of the second Test, and in his absence, the team was led by Tom Latham.

With the news breaking out, the rest of the New Zealand squad immediately took a rapid antigen test to see whether there has been a bigger spread inside the group. Bracewell will now go through a five-day isolation period to recover from the virus and will be expected to be back for the third and final Test match at Headingly in Leeds, which is set to begin on June 23, Thursday.

England have won the three-match Test series, leading by 2-0

Speaking of how the series has panned out so far, England won the first Test at Lord’s marking a major comeback in the traditional format of the game. Before facing the current World Test Champions for the first game, the English team had won just one of their previous 17 Test matches and were hanging at the bottom of the WTC points table.

But thanks to the centurions of the two games- Joe Root, Ollie Pope, and Jonny Bairstow, England clinched a series victory against New Zealand by winning the first two games of the three-match series. Root’s century had helped England win the first Test, and he smashed another ton in the first innings of the second Test to continue his good form.

On the other hand, Ollie Pope joined him in the celebrations by bringing up his century in the first innings, and the final day of the second Test ended with Jonny Bairstow becoming the second-fastest English batter to hit a century, as he achieved the feat in mere 77 deliveries. His knock was followed by skipper Ben Stokes’ unbeaten 70-ball 75* as England clinched the series in the most stylish manner.