NZ squad vaccinated before England trip

AUCKLAND: New Zealand Cricket (NZC) said on Tuesday all of its homebased players heading to England for a two-match Test series and the World Test Championship final have received their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. The New Zealand government said last month it would allow athletes to jump the queue in the country’s vaccine rollout to allow them to participate in events of “national significance”.

The country has also started administering vaccinations to its athletes ahead of their departure for the July 23-Aug. 8 Tokyo Olympics.

NZC posted a photo on Twitter of paceman Neil Wagner getting his injection on Tuesday. “He’s the last of our New Zealand-based players to receive the first of two doses,” it said.