Ashes 2021-22: England’s Training Session In Sydney Canceled After Net Bowler Tests COVID-19 Positive
Published - 02 Jan 2022, 03:15 PM | Updated - 23 Aug 2024, 01:02 AM
After losing the ongoing Ashes 2021-22 series to Australia who beat them convincingly in the first three Tests of the series, the England team’s preparations for the upcoming fourth Test in Sydney took a major hit after their training session was cancelled as a net bowler tested positive for COVID-19.
England came into this Ashes series after lots of preparation and talks about preparing for this series ever since head coach Chris Silverwood took over the reins 26 months ago. All the talks had revolved around how England is prepping themselves for this marquee Ashes series down under.
However, everything unravelled the first ball, when Mitchell Starc clean bowled Rory Burns on the first ball of the Brisbane Test match. England went on to lose the first Test by 9 wickets, the second Test in Adelaide, a D/N affair by 275 runs, and the third Test match in Melbourne by an innings and 14 runs, despite Australia making just 276 runs in their only innings. England was bowled out for 68 runs in their second do as debutant Scott Boland took 6/7.
COVID Positive Cases Derails England Team’s Preparations Throughout The Ashes
One of their net bowlers, who were supposed to bowl to the England batters in Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) nets, tested positive for the COVID-19 virus, cancelling their practice sessions hours before its commencement.
England contingent has been hit hard by COVID positive cases, as two family members and two from support staff tested positive before day 2 of the MCG Ashes Test. England team cleared the RT-PCR tests and the Test continued as planned, but head coach Chris Silverwood had to go into isolation after one of his family members tested positive after the match.
Pace bowling coach Jon Lewis, spin mentor Jeetan Patel, and strength and conditioning specialist Darren Veness have also tested positive. This left assistant coach Graham Thorpe in charge of the squad for the upcoming match in Sydney.
Having already conceded the series after three successive defeats, England suffered the latest blow just hours after the tourists planned to draft former one-day captain Adam Hollioake into the team’s coaching staff, stated media reports here.
Hollioake, a former England ODI captain, who resides in Australia, had been asked to join the tourists in Sydney. However, media reports stated on Sunday that close contact of the 50-year-old Hollioake has subsequently tested positive.
