Cricket ash without the best of England would be a “farce,” Vaughan says

REUTERS: Former England captain Michael Vaughan has called on Australian authorities to ease strict pandemic entry regulations so players ’families can travel to the country or otherwise delay the upcoming Ashes series by a year.

Writing for The Daily Telegraph, Vaughan said Australia’s chance to face a weaker England team “would be a farce” and older players are considering a trip unless their families can visit over Christmas.

“If this situation is not resolved quickly and English players can join Australia with their families, the ashes will have to be postponed for a year,” Vaughan wrote.

“If not, it would be a farce series against weak England.

“Ash must be the best against the best.”

Australia has introduced some of the world’s most stringent travel restrictions in an attempt to keep the virus at bay with strict restrictions on incoming numbers.

England are set to start the first match of a series of five tests against Australia 8. December, and the last meeting will be played on December 14-18. January.

In previous Ashes tours, players ’families have joined them over Christmas, but similar arrangements are hampered by Australian quarantine regulations.

Difficulties are compounded by key players like Ben Stokes and Jos Buttler, who have to be away from home for four months due to their participation in the October Twenty20 World Cup.

Australia recently withdrew from the English Rugby World Cup in October due to COVID-19 concerns, while cricketers from seven countries refused to take part in the just-concluded West India Tour.

“I definitely treat all players who think not to go, and I would support them all the way if they retired because they can’t be with their family at Christmas and New Year,” Vaughan wrote.

“We need ash. But we need the series to be fair and competitive.”

(Reported by Michael Church, editor Richard Pullin)