The start of the rescheduled first ODI between South Africa and England has been delayed while England await their Covid-19 results after two members of the hotel staff tested positive on Saturday. It comes less than 48 hours after the original fixture on Friday, had to be postponed because a South African player tested positive.
South Africa’s squad was re-tested on Friday evening and returned a full set of negative results. England were not tested at that stage, as their Thursday tests were all negative. However, when the hotel staff’s results were received, England were then tested again and are now awaiting the ratified results before playing.
A statement issued by both boards confirmed the delay. “The England players and management underwent an additional round of PCR tests on Saturday evening, after two members of the hotel staff testing positive for Covid-19,” it said. “Whilst the ECB awaits ratification of those test results the decision has been taken to delay the start of today’s ODI match.”
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This is the fourth Covid-related incident on the tour, and the first involving England. South Africa had one member of their squad test positive before they entered the biosecure bubble and another two days into their preparation. The first player did not stay at the same hotel as the teams and was placed in isolation, with two others who were deemed close contacts, and the second was removed from the hotel when he tested positive.
Then, on Thursday, ahead of the ODI series, another South African player tested positive and the first ODI was postponed less than an hour before the scheduled start. Now, the rescheduled first ODI has been delayed.
Despite the hiccups, the teams are due to play all three matches in the series starting today, and then moving to day-night games at Newlands in Cape Town on Monday and Wednesday. England are scheduled to fly out of South Africa on a charter flight on Thursday, December 10.
More to follow…