England team pacer James Anderson said that the tourists were nervously awaiting the results of the PCR tests after four COVID-19 positive cases emerged in the visitors' camp before the start of the second day of play of the ongoing Boxing Day Test on Monday, December 27, in Melbourne.
England’s two support staff members and two family members tested positive for Coronavirus just hours before the start of day two of the ongoing third Test of the Ashes in 2021-22 in Melbourne.
Later, the entire England team and the management underwent rapid antigen tests (RAT) as a precaution before leaving their hotel for the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) for the Boxing Day Test.
They were given the all-clear barely 45 minutes before play was due to begin at the MCG, and Anderson revealed that they had not been told of the plans if anyone tested positive.
Anderson said after stumps on day two: “As far as I’m aware, the whole playing group feels fine. We’ve just stepped up safety protocols around the dressing room, wearing masks and keeping distance where possible. We are all having PCR tests now and obviously, we need all those to be clear, if possible, so we’ll just have to wait and see what the results are.”
Meanwhile, COVID-19 cases are surging in Australia—particularly in Sydney, where the fourth Ashes Test is scheduled to be held on January 5—with more than 6,000 cases being reported daily across New South Wales, but Cricket Australia CEO Nick Hockley insisted on sticking with the plans.
Hockley told reporters on Monday: “That’s absolutely the plan, there’s nothing to suggest otherwise. We’ll rely on the protocols. It’s a day-by-day proposition.”
On the other hand, Anderson said that England is keen to finish the ongoing Ashes series.
He signed off by saying, “That’s the plan. Again, it’s going to depend on the PCR tests and what situation that is going to leave us in. As long as the group that was here at the ground today are negative, I don’t see why we can’t carry on.”
(With AFP Inputs)
