ENGLAND-INDIA FINALE GIVEN GO-AHEAD

The fifth and final cricket Test between England against India will go ahead as planned today after a Covid-19 day of doubt, disruption and derailed plans at Emirates Old Trafford.

The tourists were conspicuous by their absence on the eve of the match, scrapping their afternoon net practice and failing to fulfil their mandatory press conference following reports of a new case of the virus in their camp.

There were whispers in the Indian media that the game was under threat, a turn of events that could have come with a price tag of more than £30 million to the England and Wales Cricket Board, but a further raft of PCR tests came back all clear last night.

A spokesperson for the ECB confirmed that the latest results had all been negative and that the game would take place on schedule, allowing the series to reach a natural conclusion and averting a potential administrative minefield. India’s head coach Ravi Shastri had already tested positive during the previous Test at the Kia Oval, where the tourists wrapped up a 157-run win to open up a 2-1 series lead, with coaches Bharat Arun and Ramakrishnan Sridhar also quarantining in London.

There were concerns that initial outbreak had spread more widely when it was reported that another individual, said to have been in close contact with several players in recent days, tested positive after nets on Wednesday. Safety protocols subsequently confined the entire group to their rooms pending the results of the fresh round of testing.

The India contingent, as well as a handful of England players including the likes of Jonny Bairstow, Moeen Ali, Chris Woakes and Sam Curran, are set to depart for the Indian Premier League following the completion of the series.