Sa-england game postponed after player tests positive
CAPE TOWN: The first one-day international (ODI) between South Africa and England, scheduled to be played at Newlands in Cape Town on Friday, has been postponed ater a South African player tested positive for Covid-19.
Cricket South Africa made the announcement just over an hour before the day-night match was due to start.
According to a statement from Cricket South Africa and the England and Wales Cricket Board, the unidentified South African player’s positive status emerged from tests conducted ater his team’s final scheduled practice on Thursday.
The statement said the postponement was “in the interests of the safety and well-being of both teams, match officials and all involved in the match.”
The first match will now be a day-game in Paarl on Sunday, when the second match was scheduled.
The second match will be a day-night game at Newlands on Monday, with the series concluding as scheduled with another day-night match at Newlands on Wednesday.
The series forms part of the International Cricket Council’s World Cup Super League. WI win Martin-jenkins award Cricket West Indies have won the 2020 ‘Christopher Martin-jenkins Spirit of Cricket Award’ in recognition of their decision to send both men’s and women’s teams on tours of England during the coronavirus pandemic, it was announced on Thursday.
The West Indies’ men’s Test series, which started in July, saw international cricket resume for the first time since Covid-19 brought the global schedule to a grinding halt. England won a three-match contest 2-1 but without the willingness of Jason Holder’s tourists to live in bio-secure bubbles in Manchester and Southampton, the series would not have gone ahead.
Meanwhile the West Indies women’s team, led by Stafanie Taylor, stepped in at late notice to play England in a five-match T20 international series in September, following the cancellation of the hosts’ previously scheduled matches.
Award organisers the BBC and MCC also expressed “their admiration for the Pakistan Cricket Board, Cricket Ireland and Cricket Australia for overcoming logistical challenges to send their men’s teams to play England”.
MCC president Kumar Sangakkara said in a statement Thursday: “In a year when cricket has brought us much solace, it is entirely fiting that Cricket West Indies and their men’s and women’s teams should be recognised for the courage of their decision to tour England, an act which truly embodies the Spirit of Cricket.
The former Sri Lanka captain added: “The whole cricketing world appreciates the lengths that both they and the ECB (England and Wales Cricket Board) went to so that cricket could be played at the height of the pandemic, and their contribution should be remembered warmly.
The CMJ Spirit of Cricket award was created in 2013 by MCC and the BBC in memory of the late former MCC president and BBC Test Match Special commentator Christopher Martin-jenkins, known by his initials ‘CMJ’.
Holder’s men won a similar award from the Cricket Writers’ Club in October.