We won’t panic and derail our tour, vows Root
ENGLAND captain Joe Root last night admitted there is no guarantee England will complete the two-Test series should coronavirus become more prevalent in Sri lanka. ‘We just have to do everything we can, and if we’re told we’re not playing, take it on the chin,’ said Root. ‘If we start letting it affect us it could derail us. We’ve been advised very well by GurjGurjit Bhogal (the team doctor) and he’s been having phone calls with people here and back home. We’ve got to prepare well and the powers that be will decide if we can play.’ England have banned autographs and selfies and asked the thousands of fans due here to keep their distance from the team. On the day a tour guide became only the second person to test positive for the virus in Sri lanka, England announced a crackdown. Handshakes between the players and anyone outside the group have been replaced with fist bumps, and the media must stay two metres from team members, even during press conferences.
Meanwhile, the participation of England players at the Indian Premier league is in doubt due to fresh visa restrictions on foreigners entering the country due to coronavirus. Sportsmail understands franchise owners remain confident overseas signings will be permitted to join up as planned for the tournament that starts on March 29.
However, yesterday it appeared that a new government directive was suspending all existing visas — barring a few categories — for those travelling between March 13 and April 15. The overseas players are due to arrive during that period.
England will today ask Jack leach to prove his fitness after an illness and injury-plagued winter. leach, who has not played since november, was named in England’s team for their final warm-up game.
England team to play President’s XI in Colombo: Sibley, Crawley, Denly, Root, Stokes, Pope, Buttler, S Curran, Woakes, Bess, Leach.
l THE ECB have increased fines for social drug use in light of the Alex Hales case but have kept the confidentiality clause. The fine for a second offence has doubled from five per cent of a player’s salary to 10, but the 21-day ban has been scrapped.