Flower tests Covid positive

Sikhumbuzo Moyo, Senior Sports Reporter
ZIMBABWE cricket legend and record run scorer Andy Flower has been forced into isolation after testing positive for Covid-19.

The 53-year-old Trent Rockets head coach in England went into isolation together with two of his backroom staff.

This means Flower, who is among the greatest batsmen to emerge from Zimbabwe alongside Dave Houghton, will now miss Rockets’ two away fixtures against London Spirit at Lord’s tomorrow and against Birmingham Phoenix at Edgbaston on August 1.

The former England head coach, who has been a fixture on the T20 franchise circuit in recent seasons, took over as Rockets’ head coach in February when their original choice, New Zealander Stephen Fleming, withdrew due to ongoing Covid-related travel restrictions.

Trent Rockets are also England Test captain Joe Root’s side, and with a few days to go before the first Test against India, the news will be of particular concern to the England and Wales Cricket Board, which was forced to pick a brand new ODI squad for its series against Pakistan earlier this month following a dressing room Covid-19 outbreak during the preceding Sri Lanka series.

Covid has also wreaked havoc on the county cricket circuit this month, with Derbyshire forced to abandon their Championship match against Essex before pulling out of the Vitality Blast, and Kent fielding a team comprising the second XI and club players for their recent fixture against Sussex.