The LV= Insurance County Championship 2021 match between Derbyshire and Essex at Derby had to be abandoned after a member of the Derby team tested positive for COVID-19 on Monday, July 12.
The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) announced the same on Monday with the unnamed Derbyshire player testing COVID-19 positive and self-isolating and several members of the hosts' squad have been identified as close contacts and have gone into self-isolation.
Derbyshire is already without nine players due to injury and the latest COVID-19 outbreak forced the umpires James Middlebrook and Neil Mallender to abandon the game at Derby, awarding points for the match would be announced in due course by the ECB.
The ECB said in a statement: “The LV= Insurance County Championship match between Derbyshire and Essex at Derby has been abandoned ahead of the second day's play.”
The statement further reads, “The decision was made after it was confirmed this morning that an unnamed member of the Derbyshire playing squad tested positive for Covid-19 and has begun to self isolate. Further members of the Derbyshire squad have been identified as close contacts.
Due to the isolation protocols and impact on Derbyshire's available playing squad, the umpires have abandoned the match.”
It concluded, “The ECB has worked closely with Public Health England and both Derbyshire and Essex County Cricket Clubs with the health and safety of players, staff, and officials the first priority. Confirmation on the awarding of points from the match will be announced in due course.”
Noteworthy, Essex had bowled out Derbyshire for 146 on day one before closing on 86-3 before the game was called off due to the COVID-19 case.
(With ESPNcricinfo Inputs)
