The England men’s batting coach, Marcus Trescothick, is expected to return to the team’s camp ahead of the third Test against New Zealand.
However, Trescothick, currently at home in Somerset, has not been able to join the England squad for the upcoming matches. No decision has been made regarding his return to the team.
England was without Ben Stokes at their training session in Leeds on Tuesday due to illness. However, the team management is still optimistic that Stokes will be able to return to the team on Wednesday. No vice-captain has been named yet as a result of the appointment of Ben.
No re-test will be carried out on Stokes unless he still has any symptoms on Wednesday. The other players will also not be tested unless they show similar symptoms.
Six New Zealand touring party players and staff have tested positive for Covid-19 in recent weeks. All of them are available for the third Test.
Concern on third Test
James Anderson’s fitness is another concern for England ahead of the third Test. Although he could bowl a couple of overs during the team’s training session on Tuesday, Anderson looked below his usual level. Reports also suggested that he might be struggling with an ankle injury.
It is understood that England is considering dropping Anderson for the final Test of the series against India, which begins at Edgbaston on July 1. The third Test in Leeds is scheduled to last for five days, meaning it would only have three days between games.
Stokes may join Thursday’s game
While the other players were training, Ben was not able to attend. He will be missed for the first day of the final Test, which begins on Thursday.
A spokesperson for the England and Wales cricket board confirmed that the all-rounder tested negative for Covid-19 on Tuesday. But the England and Wales cricket board decided to keep him away from the team as a precautionary measure.
In the second innings of the second Test, which ended at Trent Bridge, Stokes scored 75 runs. His knock helped England secure their second successive win over New Zealand. It also marked their first victory over the world’s number one team in over a decade.
Jamie, Craig Overton look forward to play together
While the England team is working on ways to avoid a Covid outbreak, Craig and Jamie Overton are hoping to play together in the third Test.
The fast-medium bowling siblings are on standby should England decide to rest their attack for the final two matches.
For Jamie, who is only three minutes younger than his sibling, it is a huge opportunity to play for his country. The two have played together for various counties in the past, such as Somerset and North Devon. However, they only came face to face in first-class cricket recently. During a county match in England, Jamie hit his brother on the helmet with a rapid bouncer, causing a concussion.
“I think any sibling rivalry is always going to have a bit of extra spice and me and Craig are probably even spicier than most people,” Jamie said. “The family obviously didn’t like seeing Craig on the floor but I think they would have told us off if we weren’t giving our all.”
