adminLONDON. — Former England cricket captain Alastair Cook says it is “pretty much impossible” for the tour of South Africa to continue.
Two members of the England party have returned “unconfirmed positive tests” for coronavirus.
One-day internationals on Friday and yesterday were called off after positive tests from a South Africa player and two members of hotel staff.
“I would be very surprised if this series continued,” Cook told BBC Radio 5 Live.
“I think that’s pretty much impossible.”
ODIs are scheduled for today and Wednesday, the former rearranged after Friday’s game was called off, with England due to depart on Thursday.
England are waiting for their positive tests to be independently ratified before a decision on the remaining games is taken.
That is unlikely to come until today, but there is still the possibility that games could be played tomorrow and Wednesday.
“I’d imagine that the players will want to come home,” added Cook, who led England in 59 Tests and 69 one-day internationals.
The game on Friday was called off after an unnamed South Africa player tested positive for coronavirus.
Though the entire South Africa squad subsequently returned negative test results, England were tested as a precaution on Saturday following the positive tests of two members of the hotel staff.
The two positive tests returned by the unnamed members of the England camp have led to all players and staff self-isolating in their hotel rooms until they receive further medical advice. England are due to play Test series against Sri Lanka and India in the new year, with the squad for Sri Lanka set to travel from the UK on January 2.
“Will the players want to go to Sri Lanka?” said Cook. “Another outbreak would mean doing all the hard work, going out there, and still not playing anyway if one Covid breach brings the whole thing down.
“That will be another question. Is it worth waiting for the vaccine when things can hopefully get back to normal?”
Any potential coronavirus outbreak in the England camp would also call into question how the players and staff would spend Christmas. “I know home Christmases are a very small thing — but it is a very special thing for an England cricketer to be at home for Christmas and be able to spend time with their family,” said Cook, England’s all-time leading runscorer in international cricket.
“The last thing they’ll want to do is be isolating in a South African hotel, not being able to get home.”
The South Africa tour is England’s first trip abroad since their series in Sri Lanka in March was abandoned because of the global pandemic. The England men’s team managed to fulfil entire home summer schedule by playing matches in a bio-secure ‘bubble’ at grounds without spectators.
Their time in South Africa has again been spent in a “bubble’ with players from both sides only leaving the same Cape Town hotel to play and train. Prior to the Twenty20 series that preceded the ODIs — which England won 3-0 — two South Africa players tested positive for coronavirus and another two were placed into isolation.
“It was amazing this summer that nothing happened and every game happened,” said Cook. “The ECB have to get a lot of credit for organising it in that way. At times you probably thought the measures were a bit over the top, but they were all worth it to get all the games on.” — BBC Sport.
Online Reporter