Border gives Poms a serve

ALLAN Border has turned up the heat on England, claiming it would be a “cop-out” if it refused to tour Australia because of a weakened team.

The Ashes cricket legend says the country and the game simply cannot afford for the series to be cancelled.

Border called on administrators to do whatever it takes to save the summer series – even if that means playing all five Tests out of Sydney and Melbourne.

England’s ominous warning that if too many of its stars pull out it might abandon the tour has not gone down well with Border, who remembers when Australia faced a similar challenge and manned up.

In 1985, Border led an Australian side to England that had been devastated by a rebel tour of South Africa. That robbed him of Kim Hughes, Rodney Hogg, Carl Rackemann and Ashes swing king Terry Alderman, who might have won the series for Australia given he took 40plus wickets on the previous and following Ashes tours.

England captain Joe Root has so far refused to commit to this summer’s tour and stars like Ben Stokes and Jos Buttler are also doubtful.

Border said he would fear for the financial future of Australian cricket if the Ashes was called off, and pleaded with the England Cricket Board to consider the real victims of Covid-19 and fulfil its duty, regardless of what stars might withdraw.

“I wouldn’t be comfortable if England say they can’t come because they’re worried about all their senior players pulling out,” Border said.

Cricket Australia boss Nick Hockley was due to hold a final crisis meeting with England players on Tuesday night, ahead of a final decision by the ECB this week.

NSW powerbrokers have told Cricket Australia they can save the Ashes by providing a seven-day quarantine process and host multiple Tests at the SCG if required.

Cricket Australia is confident the quarantine conditions it has offered England players on the Gold Coast, plus the offer to accommodate wives and families of England stars closer to Christmas, should be enough to get the ECB over the line.