Latest Cricket News: New Zealand's Nicholls, Tickner, and Jurgensen test positive for Covid-19

Three New Zealand's touring party members - fast bowler Blair Tickner, batter Henry Nicholls, and bowling coach Shane Jurgensen - have tested positive for Covid-19 in Brighton. All three have begun five days of hotel room isolation after producing positive Rapid Antigen Tests on Friday morning.

A media release from NZC confirmed that all other members of the New Zealand squad had tested negative. Moreover, they also confirmed that their four-day warm-up match against Sussex, between May 20 and 23, would go ahead as scheduled.

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Nicholls, the left-handed middle-order player, has been a crucial part of New Zealand's Test side. Nicholls has made eight centuries in 46 matches with an average of 40.38. He, however, would have been unavailable to play the tour game in any case. He picked up a grade one calf strain while running drills during a pro-touring camp in Mount Maunganui earlier this month.

Meanwhile, scans showed he had not suffered a tear. Nicholls is likely to miss both New Zealand's warm-up games and faces a race to be fit for the first Test, at Lord's on June 2.

Shane Jurgensen has worked as New Zealand's bowling coach since 2016

Tickner is yet to play a Test but has appeared in two ODIs and eight T20Is. Meanwhile, most recently he featured in the ODI series at home against the Netherlands. Jurgensen, the former Queensland fast bowler, has worked as New Zealand's bowling coach since 2016. However, his current deal will run till the end of 2022. This is his second stint as the national team's bowling coach. He has previously worked with New Zealand between 2008 and 2010.

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After the game against Sussex, New Zealand is scheduled to play one more warm-up game. The warm-up game will be against FCC XI on May 26. The three-match Test series will begin on June 2, with the second Test in Nottingham on June 10, and the third being held at Headingley from June 23.