Five COVID cases hit Kiwis as England plump for twins

Devon Conway has become the third member of the New Zealand Test squad to test positive for COVID-19, with two of the tourists' backroom staff also caught up in a growing outbreak.

Black Caps captain Kane Williamson was struck down on the eve of the second Test at Trent Bridge, with allrounder Michael Bracewell also testing positive after experiencing symptoms in the aftermath of England's series-clinching victory.

Conway's case came up after a separate round of PCR screening on Wednesday, with physio Vijay Vallabh and strength and conditioning specialist Chris Donaldson also being flagged.

The remainder of the squad have returned negative results and those who have been forced to isolate are travelling separately to Leeds on Sunday for the series finale at Headingley.

As it stands all three of Williamson, Bracewell and Conway - who had scores of 46 and 52 batting at three in Nottinghamshire – should be clear to take the field next Thursday, with Cricket New Zealand continuing to follow pre-agreed health protocols in the meantime.

Meanwhile, Jamie Overton has been called up by England to join Craig – his older brother by three minutes – in a 14-man party for the match at Headingley starting on June 23.

The decision puts the Overtons back on the same team after they went head-to-head in an English County Championship match last week – a meeting that ended with Craig suffering concussion after Jamie hit him with a bouncer.

The addition of Jamie, an uncapped seamer, suggests England are keen to assess their options in Leeds, having relied on a three-man pace attack of James Anderson, Stuart Broad and newcomer Matthew Potts in the first two Tests. 

England have won both matches so far to have already sealed the series.

No twins have played international cricket for England before, a record that seems likely to stay intact given that Craig has been an unused squad member in the first two games against the Kiwis.

But should conditions favour quick bowlers, as they often do in Leeds, England could choose to replace spinner Jack Leach with an additional pace option and pit the Overtons into direct competition for one place.

Jamie is comfortably the quicker bowler and has greater range as a batter, which could be relevant given the length of the current English tail.

But Craig has proved a more reliable, consistent performer in first-class cricket over the years, taking 402 wickets compared to Jamie's 206 and picking up eight Test caps and four ODI appearances.