Crisis talks on Sri Lanka tour

England will hold emergency talks with Sri lanka Cricket this week before they decide whether next month’s Test series can go ahead. The new strain of Covid-19 in the south-east of England and the tougher restrictions on travel have raised concerns over the two Tests that were postponed in March and are now due to take place in galle on January 14 and 22. It has already been decided there will be no media present because of the Covid resurgence. Sky and the BBC face commentating off the world TV feed from their bases in England — if the tour goes

ahead. But England remain ‘hopeful’ they will be able to leave on January 2 for their two-week spell in quarantine in Hambantota in the south of Sri Lanka, before moving to Galle. The Sri Lankan government have employed strict conditions ever since England’s tour was dramatically called off in the middle of a warm-up match in Colombo at the start of the pandemic. As a result, there is nervousness in the country now about letting England in. If the tour does go ahead England will have a well-known face among their coaching ranks — Jacques Kallis. The South Africa legend will act as a batting consultant in the absence of rested assistant coach Graham Thorpe and Marcus Trescothick, who was batting coach on the aborted tour of South Africa. Kallis, who was among the South Africa coaching staff when England toured this time last year, will only be on board for the Sri Lanka trip. Former England opener Trescothick remains among the favourites for the full-time batting coach position that will be filled later this year.