England Head Coach Chris Silverwood To Miss His Duty For Fourth Test Due To COVID-19 Close Contact

England head coach Chris Silverwood will be missing the fourth Test between Australia and England at Sydney as he was in close contact with a positive COVID-19 person. Despite returning a negative result, Chris Silverwood will have to quarantine for 10 days in Melbourne and will not travel with the team to Sydney.

The latest round of PCR tests returned a positive result in the England camp and Silverwood being in close contact with the case will not be allowed to travel with the team. Assistant coach Graham Thorpe is likely to take over in Chris Silverwood’s absence.

ECB’s statement on Chris Silverwood:

“Following the latest round of PCR tests administered to the England men’s touring party on Wednesday 29 December, one family member has tested positive,” the ECB statement read.

“As a result of the positive test, England men’s head coach Chris Silverwood will have to be isolated for 10 days, along with his family, in Melbourne and will miss the fourth Ashes Test,” the statement further mentioned.

England already had a COVID-19 scare in their camp during the third Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). Two family members as well as two from the support staff Tested positive for COVID-19 and the start of play was delayed. Play resumed on Day 2 only when the Rapid Antigen tests of players from both sides returned negative results.

The tour was still on a knife-edge when PCR Tests were done on Monday but negative results meant that Day 3 went ahead as planned and Australia thumped England to regain the Ashes.

Also Read: Ravi Shastri Recalls How He Planned Jasprit Bumrah’s Test Debut In South Africa