England coach to fly home from New Zealand tour after bereavement

Wellington: England coach Chris Silverwood will return home after day two of the second test match against New Zealand on Saturday due to a family bereavement.

Assistant coaches Graham Thorpe and Paul Collingwood will manage the team in his absence alongside captain Joe Root for the remainder of the New Zealand tour, the England and Wales Cricket Board said in a statement on Wednesday.

New Zealand lead the two-match series 1-0 ahead of the second test starting at Seddon Park in Hamilton on Friday.

The Black Caps won the opener in Mount Maunganui by an innings and 65 runs.

The Hamilton test is the last match of the six-week tour, Silverwood’s first in charge of the team since taking over from Trevor Bayliss after the drawn Ashes series.