England’s cricketers face the prospect of not seeing their families for FOUR MONTHS due to tight Covid-19 restrictions in Australia… despite Cricket Australia’s lobbying
- Stars who play Test, one-day internationals and Twenty20 would be affected
- Those players are likely to be apart from their families from September-January
- The ECB are currently pushing for an answer from their Australian counterparts
England’s cricketers face being apart from their families for an astonishing four months this winter.
Stars who play Tests, one-day internationals and Twenty20 for their country are likely to be away from loved ones from September — when they start their T20 World Cup preparations — until mid-January, when the Ashes series ends.
The players are increasingly anxious, in particular, about families not being allowed to join them for the long Ashes tour due to Covid-19 restrictions.
England cricket stars face the prospect of going without seeing their families for four months
Australia’s borders are closed to travellers from overseas to limit the spread of the virus and that is not expected to change until 2022.
It means Australian government dispensation would be required for the squad to be joined by families. Cricket Australia are lobbying on the ECB’s behalf but are yet to confirm what provisions might be in place — with the tour just five months away.
Asked on Monday if he expected families to be with Joe Root’s team next winter, England wicketkeeper Jos Buttler said: ‘I don’t know the answer. Covid is an ever-changing situation and Australia have some quite strict policies.’
On the prospect of trying to win back the urn without wives, partners, parents and children in tow, Buttler added: ‘That would be a huge challenge, especially when you are accustomed to being able to take your family.
Stars like Mark Wood who play Test, one-day internationals and Twenty20 would be affected
‘A lot of the guys have young families, so I’m sure they’d find that tough. Hopefully, a positive solution can be found.’
England’s multi-format players are scheduled to be overseas for four months solid from mid-September — when tours to Bangladesh and Pakistan will prepare them for the T20 World Cup starting in late October.
England’s Test players are set to report Down Under during the second half of November, ahead of a December 8 start to the series in Brisbane.
The five matches conclude in Perth on January 18. The ECB are pushing for an answer from their Australian counterparts and are understood to be willing to put on a charter flight if clearance is given.
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