Play starts despite positive COVID tests in India camp

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Written by Tim Wigmore

The fourth test at the Kia Oval this morning was rocked by Covid-19 scare after India coach Ravi Shastri tested positive for Covid-19 and was placed in isolation.

Three other members of the India support team – bowling coach Bharat Arun, field coach R Sridhar and physiotherapist Nitin Patel – have also been sacked as boards scramble to ensure the series continues as planned. All three showed negative results on lateral flow tests.

But all India’s players tested negative in two lateral flow tests – Saturday evening and Sunday morning – and the start of the fourth day’s game against England managed to go ahead as planned.

England and India have been in separate environments throughout the series as part of measures to mitigate the risks of players contracting for Covid-19. The only interactions between the two teams were on the field.

“They have undergone RT-PCR testing and will remain at the team hotel and will not travel with Team India until confirmed by the medical team,” a statement from the Board of Control for Cricket in India said.

In another reminder of cricket’s continuing dangers from Covid-19, the county championship match between Hampshire and Warwickshire was delayed by half an hour after a Hampshire player tested positive for Covid-19.

But the match will go ahead as planned, with tests confirming the Hampshire player is the only person affected.

A spokesperson for the England and Wales Cricket Board said: “The start of the LV=Insurance County Championship match between Warwickshire and Hampshire in Edgbaston has been postponed until 11:30am following the confirmation of a positive Covid-19 case within the Hampshire squad.”

“The safety of players, officials and staff is our priority and it was important that the investigation be completed before making sure that the start of the match was safe.”

Earlier this summer, Tom Harrison, chief executive of the European Central Bank, warned that the rest of the international summer was on a “knife edge”. England softened the bubble for players this summer to protect the mental health of players, although severe restrictions remain in place.

Surrey’s match with Durham last week was called off after several Surrey players tested positive for Covid-19. In July, England were forced to select an entirely new team for the one-day international series against Pakistan after Covid-19 through the squad.

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