A TOUR TOO FAR FOR ENGLAND?

Months away from loved ones could be final straw

SEVERAL England players have voiced misgivings about participating in the Ashes this winter if Australia refuse to allow families to tour.

Players, the Professional Cricketers’ Association and the ECB are set for initial talks this week about potential Covid restrictions Down Under.

And sources within the England dressing room have admitted “a number of players” with young families are considering their priorities.

Australia has some of the strictest Covid defences and protocols in the world and the prospect of being placed inside a secure bubble for a sustained period straight from the T20 World Cup is a concern.

Some players could be away from mid-September, when England head to Bangladesh, through a short T20 tour of Pakistan before the T20 World Cup.

Going to Australia in early November and spending Christmas and New Year away from families has been a point of discussion in the Test squad.

Multi-format players such as Ben Stokes, Jonny Bairstow, Mark Wood, Jos Buttler and Jofra Archer could be away for five months.

An ECB spokesman admitted such a schedule would be unsustainable.

This week’s talks are to discuss players’ concerns but are not expected to deliver an ultimatum.

Cricket Australia and the Australian government are set to add flesh to the bones of how they see the winter early next month.

England’s Test squad are set to meet up in Nottingham ahead of next week’s first Test against India.

And they will do so with a fresh warning of the powers of Covid to disrupt sport after positive tests hit The Hundred at Trent Bridge yesterday. Trent Rockets head coach Andy Flower and two other support staff pulled out of last night’s clash with Northern Superchargers after testing positive.

All-rounder Steven Mullaney and a further member of the support staff also withdrew after being designated as close contacts.

England Test captain Joe Root has shared a dressing room with those affected.

There is no suggestion Root has been affected directly but with nine days to go before the first of five Tests against India in a series worth £100million to the ECB, any positive tests are a concern.