Ashes 2021-22: NSW government gives England players exemption as Premier sledges Poms

The NSW Premier has lent England a helping hand amid its mini Covid-19 cluster, but he didn’t let the touring side off the hook that easily.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - DECEMBER 27: Ben Stokes (C) of England celebrates with teammates Jack Leach and Ollie Robinson after dismissing Alex Carey of Australia during day two of the Third Test match in the Ashes series between Australia and England at Melbourne Cricket Ground on December 27, 2021 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)

England’s desperation to stop the spread of its mini Covid-cluster was put to the test again on Tuesday night, with every player and official ordered to undergo a PCR swab for the second time in 24 hours.

Six members of the touring party have contracted the virus – three support staffers and three of their family members – who have all been isolating since developing symptoms shortly after Christmas.

But no players have been brought down by the virus and the New South Wales government on Tuesday granted the Ashes squads special exemptions to ensure the fourth Test remains at the MCG.

As revealed exclusively by News Corp on Monday, cricketers who are deemed close contacts of positive cases by NSW Health Officials won’t be locked down for seven days.

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England will undergo another PCR test. Picture: AFP

The SCG test is sacred, an important date at the start of the third year of our life with COVID-19,” NSW Health minister Brad Hazzard said on Tuesday.

“I want to assure the cricket loving public, under our rules any players with exposure to a known case of COVID-19 would be asked to test and isolate only until a negative result was received.

“If there are any cases within the teams, their support staff, or families, we will work with the people involved to ensure they are safe, and there is as little disruption to others as possible.”

NSW has effectively adopted Victoria’s rulings, which allowed the Boxing Day Test to continue after several members of England’s camp contracted the virus on the eve of day two.

The NSW power move was a game-changer for the series continuing in Sydney on January 5 because it can now short-circuit a Boxing Day-type scenario instead of having the Test killed by the virus.

Australian and England players will jet to Sydney on a chartered flight and share a private hotel, along with ICC match officials and umpires.

NSW Chief Health Officer Kerry Chant said high vaccination rates and Cricket Australia’s Level 4 protocols ensured the public health risk from the teams was minimised.

NSW premier Dominic Perrottet declared the Sydney Test a certainty to take place in the face of exploding case numbers.

“The Sydney Test is a highlight of our state’s calendar. It is happening,” he said from Wagga Wagga on Tuesday.

“I can’t assure you how long (the match) will last given what we’ve seen today (England’s collapse).

“So try and get in on the first two days to see some action.”

Ashes saved: Players cleared of Covid in major relief

England and Australian players have all tested negative to PCR COVID-19 tests, meaning the Ashes series has been saved.

Play will resume on day three as planned at 10.30am after Cricket Australia confirmed there was no further infection in the England camp.

A Cricket Australia spokesperson confirmed that families of both sets of players also had PCR tests on Monday night and returned negative tests.

The two England support staff members and their family members who tested positive – with those positive results confirmed by PCR tests – are in isolation in Melbourne.

It’s a huge relief for Cricket Australia, with the four infections in the England camp the first threat to the series completing.

Cricket Australia is adamant it can still fulfill the schedule as planned, with the next Test in Sydney on January 5.

While no players have returned positive tests, the mini-cluster inside England’s camp, which totals more than 60 people, has grown from four to six.

It’s understood three staff members as well as three of their family members have contracted the virus, with persistent testing expected to continue for several days and the emergence of more cases a distinct possibility.

Why we must thank England for immense sacrifice

England showed true character on day two of the Boxing Day Test – and most of it before a ball was bowled.

The tourists would have been well within their rights to stay back at the hotel given the uncertainty swirling around the camp, with two staff members and two family members testing positive before play.

India abandoned a Test match against England under similar circumstances, and England themselves withdrew from a one-day match against South Africa when cases emerged.

But no sooner had the England playing XI received their negative rapid antigen test results, they were on the bus to the MCG to get on with it.

England got on with the job after a dramatic morning. Picture: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

England copped plenty before the series for their hesitations in committing to the tour, but they move through Australia’s myriad of contradictory Covid rules and regulations and case numbers rise in the major cities, it’s time to say fair play to the Old Enemy for being here.

After a disastrous day one on Boxing Day, Joe Root’s men showed great fight on the field in the first two sessions – with 39-year-old veteran Jimmy Anderson leading the way.

News that the NSW Government is looking at easing restrictions to protect England and Australian players from being forced into seven-days isolation if they’re nailed as close contacts during the Sydney Test is a relief, because without that assurance, you could understand Root’s men wanting to stay in Melbourne.

The message out of Boxing Day is Cricket Australia must box smart to get the Ashes series finished.

Sydney and Hobart deserve their Tests, but the series is hanging by a thread and chief executive Nick Hockley knows that a false move now could cost CA tens of millions of dollars.

The priority needs to be getting the five matches played. If the NSW and Tasmanian Governments relax close contact rules then it relieves a lot of the pressure.

The England team and management are currently at the team hotel awaiting results of RFT COVID tests following a positive test in the team’s family group.

We will provide more information in due course.

— England Cricket (@englandcricket) December 26, 2021

Our players have been given the all clear to play today and have arrived at the ground.

Play will start at midnight (UK) / 11am local.#Ashes | #AUSvENGpic.twitter.com/Sz4468f2v4

— England Cricket (@englandcricket) December 26, 2021

For example, Channel 7’s commentary team – deemed close contacts of a positive case – were back at the MCG by 1pm, because Victorian Government rules allowed them to return after a negative result.

If an England or Australian player tests positive, administrators can afford a 24 hour delay to match – but anything harsher and the series could blow up at any moment. At the moment Victoria has the most Ashes friendly rules of any state.

Thankfully the NSW Government – currently dealing with an explosion of cases – has shown a commonsense approach through most of the pandemic conducive to getting major sport played, while Tasmania is also providing assurances.

No matter what precautions are taken and decisions made, Cricket Australia has to accept the reality that fulfilling this Ashes schedule is now far from guaranteed.

Breaking point is close, and CA needs to start choosing the path of least resistance or risk an England team who couldn’t be blamed for looking for the exits.