NZ captain Williamson out of second Test against England with Covid

New Zealand captain Kane Williamson is out of the second Test against England at Trent Bridge after testing positive for Covid-19 the night before the match.

Williamson undertook a Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) after experiencing minor symptoms on Thursday and will now begin five days of isolation, New Zealand said in a statement.

The rest of the touring party have returned negative tests.

Hamish Rutherford will join the squad on Friday morning as Williamson's replacement, with Tom Latham stepping in as captain.

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

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

"Hamish was with the Test squad earlier in the tour and has been playing for the Leicestershire Foxes in the Vitality T20 Blast."

Williamson's absence will be a big blow to New Zealand, whose top four - Will Young, Latham, Williamson and Devon Conway - each failed to pass 15 in either innings during the first Test defeat at Lord's.

Middle-order batter Henry Nicholls could return for the Black Caps after he missed the first Test due to Covid-19, but seam-bowling all-rounder Colin de Grandhomme has already been ruled out of the rest of the series due to a heel injury he sustained on the third day at Lord's.

England named an unchanged XI for the second Test, with Jack Leach passed fit after concussion and Stokes declaring he's "fine" to bowl.

Left-arm spinner Leach was withdrawn six overs into the first Test at Lord's after taking a heavy fall on the boundary. His mandatory seven-day rest period ended on Thursday and he took a full part in England's training session.

Stokes, who appeared to tweak his side while