Cricket British Prime Minister Johnson is asking Australia to help resolve the Ashes stand-off

MELBOURNE, Sep 23 (Reuters) – British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has asked his Australian counterpart Scott Morrison to help ease strict quarantine rules so that families of English cricketers can get around with players during the upcoming Ashes series.

English players want assurances that their family members will be allowed to join Australia during the five test series in December and January.

Australia’s borders will be effectively closed to COVID-19 surveillance in an effort to restrict international arrivals and limited places in the country’s mandatory hotel quarantine.

Johnson said he discussed the ashes with Morrison in Washington this week when the couple met for dinner.

“I raised the issue and he said he would do his best for the families,” Johnson told reporters in Washington.

“He fully understood that it is very difficult for cricketers to ask people to be away from their families at Christmas.

“He just committed to come back and see if he could find a solution.”

The England and Wales cricket committee said last month it was “very confident” that Ashes, which starts in Brisbane on December 8, is progressing as planned, although England players say they can skip the tour if families are unable to travel to Australia.

Australia plans to ease border and quarantine restrictions by the end of 2021, when at least 80% of adults are expected to receive two COVID-19 vaccinations.

However, officials from the COVID-free states of Western Australia and Queensland have said they are setting their own timetables for opening up and may stick to their borders for longer.

(Reported by Ian Ransom in Melbourne; edited by Peter Rutherford)

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