‘No special deals’ for England cricketers

England cricketers heading to Australia for the Ashes this year will get “no special deals” allowing their families to join them, Prime Minister Scott Morrison has declared.

The five-test series is due to start in Brisbane on December 8, but whether England bring a full-strength squad remains to be seen.

Some players, particularly those with young children, have expressed concern that their families may be unable to travel with them because

of strict Australian border controls.

Morrison told reporters following a meeting with British Prime Minister Boris Johnson in Washington on Wednesday night that he would “love” to see the Ashes go ahead, but there would be no favours.

“There’s no special deals there, because what we’re looking to have is vaccinated people being able to travel,” he said referring to Australia’s national plan out of the pandemic, under which international borders are set to re-open to vaccinated people when 80 per cent of the population over 16 are fully jabbed.

The figure currently stands at almost 50 per cent, although officials in some states have indicated they will set their own timetables for opening up.

The prime minister added that he does not see “a great deal of difference” between cricketers and people attempting to come to the country for work or to study even after the vaccination goals have been reached.

Johnson had told reporters after having dinner with Morrison that “I raised it and he said he was going to do his best for the families.”