England faces mass players' withdrawal from Ashes 2021-22 due to Australia's hard quarantine rules

England cricketers not happy with travel and quarantine arrangements for their families.

England who is currently playing a home Test series against India is scheduled to tour Australia later this year for The Ashes 2021-22. But, as many as 10 English players could pull out of the tour as they are unhappy with the travel and quarantine arrangements for their families down under.

Australia has some strict COVID-19 protocols and quarantine regulations, which is seeing the Aussie cricketers who recently returned from their white-ball tour of West Indies and Bangladesh are serving their two-week quarantine at a hotel in Adelaide.

According to a report in the 'Sydney Morning Herald', unhappy with Cricket Australia's (CA) lack of progress on this front, many English players are considering pulling out if their demands are not met.

At a meeting of the England squad at Headingley this week, it was learned that there was a lot of frustration about the lack of progress by Cricket Australia over quarantine rules, as per reports.

It is understood that CA doesn't have enough influence over the government down under and even individual states can impose a ban or lockdown an entire city entirely on quick notice, disturbing all the agreements made before the players leave the UK.

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The Australian cricket board on Saturday said that they are working closely with government and health officials in their quest to find a solution.

“Cricket Australia continues to work closely with the ECB (England and Wales Cricket Board) and government authorities in Australia regarding the upcoming Ashes series, which will be the centerpiece for one of the biggest summers of cricket on record,” a CA statement read.

“We are currently planning the operational requirements of this tour and working with the ECB on the proposed make-up of the England touring party. As was the case last season, CA will work constructively and in partnership with government to deliver the summer of cricket, while ensuring the health, wellbeing, and safety of the community,” the statement further said.

The five-Test Ashes series between England and Australia is scheduled from December 8 to January 18 with matches to be played in Brisbane, Adelaide Oval, Melbourne Cricket Ground, Sydney, Perth respectively.

(With PTI Inputs)