Four England-bound New Zealanders currently undergoing isolation in the Maldives.
New Zealand head coach Gary Stead on Tuesday (May 11) revealed that the Kiwi players – who currently serving their quarantine in the Maldives after the suspension of the IPL 2021 – are most likely to depart for the United Kingdom (UK) this weekend for the Test assignments.
While most of the New Zealand players returned home after the 14th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL 2021) postponed indefinitely following the COVID-19 outbreak inside its bio-bubble, a few England tour-bound players are in the Maldives and currently undergoing their quarantine there.
Presently, New Zealand captain Kane Williamson, Mitchell Santner, Kyle Jamieson, and physio Tommy Simsek are undergoing isolation in the Maldives and might head to the UK between May 15-17 to play in a two-match Test series against England, starting on June 2 followed by the World Test Championship (CWT) final against India from June 18 in Southampton.
The UK government has put the Maldives on their red list, which means there will be no direct flights for England, as well as, the travelers will have to undergo 10-day quarantine, although, Stead didn’t have any clue whether the Kiwi players will have to undergo quarantine in the UK.
As reported by ESPNcricinfo, Stead said: “I don't know all the details right now. My understanding is that they are looking to leave somewhere around the time that we leave (May 15, 16, or 17) in that time frame. My understanding is that the England board is still working through the final details of what it means to come through the Maldives as opposed to New Zealand.”
The Kiwi head coach also hinted that the experienced pacer Trent Boult, who was playing for Mumbai Indians and went straight home after the IPL 14 got suspended on May 4, will miss the first Test against England on June 2, but will be available for the WTC final against India and final Test match.
Stead said of Boult’s decision, “Everyone has got their reasons around it. India changed very, very quickly, over the space of two or three days, and there were options put in front of the guys and he (Boult) felt for him and his mental health, the best thing he could do was get home for a while.”
He signed off by saying, “He is a professional; he has been there in the international circuit for a long time now. He will be ready. We are working through what build-up looks like to him and his readiness for the World Test Championship final when he comes back to us.”
(With PTI Inputs)