LONDON: New Zealand cricketers have arrived in London to start their bio-secure tour of England before the ICC World Test Championship Final against India, New Zealand Cricket (NZC) said on Monday.

Most of the Test squad and staff had been transferred to hotel quarantine in Southampton where they will warm up for the two-Test series against England, NZC said in a statement.

“The first three days will be spent in hotel room isolation, before mini training groups of six can be established from days 4-6, pending negative Covid results,” NZC said.

Tim Southee, B.J. Watling, Ross Taylor and Neil Wagner were scheduled to depart Auckland later on Monday to join the squad in Southampton.

Captain Kane Williamson and other players and staff who were involved in the suspended Indian Premier League were expected to arrive in England later on Monday after flying out of the Maldives, NZC said.

After a successful stint with English county side Durham, batsman Will Young will also link up with the team on Monday and undergo isolation at Southampton’s Ageas Bowl before joining his team-mates for training.

Pace spearhead Trent Boult will join the group later after spending some time with family, NZC added.

New Zealand play the first Test against England at Lord’s from June 2 before the second at Edgbaaston in Birmingham from June 10.

The Black Caps then face Virat Kohli’s India in the World Test Championship final in Southampton from June 18.

Published in Dawn, May 18th, 2021