Ashes series officially in trouble as ECB hints they could cancel

This summer’s Ashes series is officially in trouble with confirmation from the England Cricket Board that it may look to cancel if enough senior players pull out.

Joe Root says players were baulking at travelling because of quarantine conditions

This summer’s Ashes series is officially in trouble with confirmation from the England Cricket Board that it may look to cancel if enough senior players pull out.

In a release issued last night the ECB said it had been in positive talks with Australia and would consult with players before making a call about the series estimated to be worth $200m to Australian cricket.

To this point there has been conjecture about player reluctance and suggestions of a postponement, but the board’s statement takes things to a new level.

The ECB said a decision will be made by the end of the week.

“Over the weekend we have been talking to England men’s players and management to provide them with the latest information about the proposed arrangements for this winter’s scheduled Ashes tour,” the statement said.

“We remain in regular and positive dialogue with Cricket Australia over these arrangements as the picture is constantly evolving. With health and wellbeing at the forefront, our focus is to ensure the tour can go ahead with conditions for players and management to perform at their best.

“We will continue talking to our players this week to share the latest information and seek feedback.

“Later this week the ECB Board will meet to decide whether the conditions in place are sufficient for the Tour to go ahead and enable the selection of a squad befitting a series of this significance.”

Cricket Australia said in a statement on Monday night: “We have had regular and positive discussions with the ECB over the past six months on providing conditions which will allow players from both teams to perform at their best during the Ashes summer.

“The health and wellbeing of both squads while ensuring the tour proceeds in a safe manner is a priority and we especially thank our government partners for all their support in this regard. We are also buoyed by rising vaccination rates and an evolving approach to the pandemic in Australia.

“The anticipated conditions for the tour, including quarantine arrangements have now been communicated to the ECB and directly to the England players and staff.”

England gave only vague reasons for a last minute cancellation of a Pakistan tour last month but cited player fatigue.

The board’s message appears to endorse warnings from captain Joe Root that senior players were baulking at travelling because of Australian quarantine conditions.

Ben Stokes and Jos Buttler are among the players said to be doubtful, while Jofra Archer is injured.

England has played 20 Tests in the past two years and its players are exhausted from the rigours biosecurity bubbles and family separations.

Australia has played four Tests in that time _ all at home.

Root spoke recently about the conflicting emotion senior players were dealing with.

“I think I speak on behalf of everyone that Ashes cricket, an away tour to Australia, is just one of those things that you’re just desperate to be on,” Root said. “The position I’m at in my career, it could be the last opportunity I get to go. So of course it’s something you’re desperate to do, desperate to hopefully make history over there and be part of something very special.

“But it’s hard to make a definite decision until we know what it looks like. Once that information comes through and we have a bit more clarity, hopefully we are in a position to do something special this year.

“I feel it’s so hard to make a definite decision until you know,” Root said. “That’s why it’s so important that we get all the information. I’m desperate to be part of an Ashes series, I always am, it’s that one series as an England player that you [most] want to be involved in and that will never change. I think it’s really important everyone makes a decision that they’re comfortable with. We just have to be patient, we just have to wait until we know what’s happening and then make a decision on the back of that.”

One option floated is to have players rotate through the series so they do not spend so long away form home.

Former England captain Nasser Hussein slammed Tim Paine in the English press today for his apparent lack of sympathy after he said there would be an Ashes whether Root comes or not.

“England have played 18 Test matches since the start of the pandemic in March 2020,” Hussain wrote in his Daily Mail column.

“That’s five more than anyone else — and 14 more than Australia, whose four Tests all came at home against India last winter.

“I’m quite proud of the way in which England’s Test team have kept the show on the road in difficult circumstances, moving in and out of bubbles and spending time away from their families.