South African ace quick Kagiso Rabada revealed that the national team players are training in two groups in order to minimise the risk of more Coronavirus cases within the camp before hosting England in a limited-overs series starting November 27. 

Two of the Proteas cricketers have been tested positive since the group came together last week, which subsequently led two more to be isolated because of being in close contact with one of the infected individuals. 

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This has meant tightening up of the bio-security protocols and restrictions imposed on players for the safe conduct of the series. 

"It's been quite bizarre," said Rabada during an online press conference from the team hotel in Cape Town on Monday (November 24). "We have to train in groups — a group of non-contacts and a group of close contacts."

"It doesn't mean anyone is (additionally) positive but we have to take that extra precaution."

Rabada didn't give away the exact detail of the number of players allocated to each group, but the team management did cancel their intra-squad games originally scheduled for Saturday and Monday as part of further precautionary measures. 

While informing that another round of testing will be conducted "soon", Rabada said "training is going smoothly" before the first of three T20Is and that "the team is doing well at sticking to strict rules."

Rabada, who experienced life in bio-bubbles for the best part of three months playing the IPL 2020 where he was again brilliant for Delhi Capitals (DC), said no crowds didn't affect the quality of cricket played in UAE and he expects it to be same facing England. 

"The competitiveness was second to none," he said. "The crowd gives that extra bit of adrenaline and that extra bit of drama and theatre."

"There's definitely an element missing but at the end of the day we are competitive cricketers who want to compete, to test your skill level. I think it will be much the same in this series."

Living the bubble life can be mentally challenging, but Rabada realises it's necessary if cricket is to go ahead in these times. 

"It's like luxury prisons that you are in but at the end of the day you have to remind yourself that you are fortunate," he said.

"People have lost their jobs and people are struggling. I try to remind myself that we must be grateful for the opportunity to earn some money and do what we love."

(Inputs from AFP)