Fate of Ashes to be decided this week following ECB meeting

The final call on England’s participation in the Ashes will be taken this week following England Cricket Board’s (ECB) meeting to discuss the terms of the series. The Australian government has imposed strict curbs in the country due to the severe COVID-19 wave. Several England players, including Joe Root and Jos Buttler, are not keen to play the series under strict COVID-19 regulations. More so, the families of the players are also not allowed to accompany them which gives them more than one reason to turn away from the series. However, they have officially not pulled out of the tour and are awaiting ECB’s decision.

“Over the weekend we have been talking to England men’s players and management to provide them with the latest information about the proposed arrangements for this winter’s scheduled Ashes tour.
“We remain in regular and positive dialogue with Cricket Australia over these arrangements as the picture is constantly evolving. With health and wellbeing at the forefront, our focus is to ensure the tour can go ahead with conditions for players and management to perform at their best,” read a statement from ECB.

Cricket Australia (CA) had earlier sent a proposal to the ECB detailing the terms of the series. The players reportedly have been informed about the same and ECB are awaiting their feedback. Once the players’ feedback is taken, ECB will be in a better position to take a call on Ashes participation.

“We will continue talking to our players this week to share the latest information and seek feedback.
“Later this week the ECB Board will meet to decide whether the conditions in place are sufficient for the Tour to go ahead and enable the selection of a squad befitting a series of this significance.”

The cricket fraternity has different opinions on England’s participation in Ashes. Many Australian experts have requested England to play the series. Even former England skipper Andrew Strauss said the same given the importance of the series. However, the likes of Michael Vaughan and Kevin Pietersen are not in favour of the same.