HUNDRED’S COVID BLOW

ENGLAND’S Test players may be forced to miss the opening skirmishes of The Hundred in order to reduce the risk of Covid infection ahead of the India series. Players such as Ben Stokes, Jos Buttler, Joe Root and Chris Woakes were expected to feature in the first week of the new tournament before taking on India at the start of August.

But with England’s entire ODI squad being forced into isolation before the Pakistan series, the ECB are considering a 10-day self-quarantine ahead of the India series to minimise the risk of players being ruled out of the first two Tests.