England’s tour of South Africa AXED due to coronavirus outbreak after first ODI cancelled
ENGLAND’S tour of South Africa has been AXED due to an outbreak of coronavirus in both teams.
The first ODI, originally scheduled for Friday, was abandoned after positive coronavirus tests from two members of staff at the tourists’ hotel.
The re-arranged match was then cancelled 30 minutes before the start after an unnamed South African player returned a positive result.
England then saw ‘two unconfirmed positive test results’ in their own squad, with Monday’s second ODI also called off.
The entire squad were forced to self-isolate, before the rules were relaxed to allow all but the two stars to have returned positive results to roam the hotel.
But now the entire tour HAS been cancelled on medical grounds.
An ECB statement read: “Cricket South Africa (CSA) and the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) have agreed to postpone the remaining matches in the current men’s ODI Series.
“The decision was taken jointly by the two Boards to ensure the mental and physical health and welfare of players from both teams.
“The CSA and ECB will now work together to determine when the three-match Series, which forms part of the ICC Cricket Men’s Super League, can take place in the future.”
ECB CEO Tom Harrison added: “We have always maintained that the welfare of our players and management is paramount.
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“We were concerned about the potential impact that recent developments might have on the wellbeing of the touring party.
“After consultation with Cricket South Africa, we have jointly made the decision to postpone the remaining matches in this series, in the best interest of the players’ welfare.
“I would like to thank Cricket South Africa for their support and understanding on this matter and look forward to working with them to identify a time when we can return to play these fixtures in the future.”
England had been due to play three ODIs in South Africa – on Friday, Monday and Wednesday – before flying home on Thursday.
They had earlier played in three Twenty20 internationals, with Eoin Morgan’s side winning all three.
On Sunday, ex-England star Nasser Hussain hinted the tour could be cancelled with players not wanting to risk missing Christmas due to being forced to self-isolate in South Africa.
Hussain told Sky Sports.: “Those two hotel staff could have been with anyone, they’re then serving the England cricket team.
“That’s the problem with being in a bubble – the bubble works if it’s completely secure.
“But the bubble makes it doubly worse because you’re all on top of each other and then when the bubble is breached, it can spread through the team.
“England players will be thinking if they have to spend two weeks here if one of them gets it, then are they going to be late home for Christmas, families, can they spread it to grandparents?
“Some of them have to go off to Sri Lanka on January 2.
“You can imagine the Whatsapp groups going on between players saying, ‘Should we just get ourselves home for the sake of one or two ODIs?'”