ECB ask England white-ball players to leave Big Bash to protect West Indies tour

GEORGE DOBELL: Among the players asked to return to the UK are Saqib Mahmood, who has been on standby for the Test squad in recent weeks, George Garton, Reece Topley, Sam Billings, James Vince and Tymal Mills

England’s limited-overs players involved in the Big Bash have been advised to leave Australia as soon as possible.

The Cricketer understands that the ECB, mindful of rising cases of Covid in the country, have asked all players involved in the T20 tour of the Caribbean to fly back to London within days.

Anyone picked for the five-match series, scheduled to begin in Barbados on January 22, is expected to return to the UK by January 7.

In most cases, that will reduce their stays in Australia by at least a week.

^{Tymal Mills played for Perth Scorchers on Sunday}

Among the players asked to return to the UK are Saqib Mahmood, who has been on standby for the Test squad in recent weeks, George Garton, Reece Topley, Sam Billings, James Vince and Tymal Mills.

Mahmood and Billings were selected to play for Sydney Thunder on Sunday, while Mills appeared for Perth Scorchers against Adelaide Strikers.

Chris Jordan had already left. 

In a statement on January 2, the Big Bash organisers confirmed the English players mentioned above will be released by their respective clubs: "The six English players currently playing in the KFC BBL who have been selected for England’s T20 International series against the West Indies will be returning to the UK by January 7.

ENGLAND SQUAD FOR WEST INDIES T20s

Eoin Morgan, Moeen Ali, Tom Banton, Sam Billings, Liam Dawson, George Garton, Chris Jordan, Liam Livingstone, Saqib Mahmood, Tymal Mills, David Payne, Adil Rashid, Jason Roy, Phil Salt, Reece Topley, James Vince

"CA thanks the ECB and the English players for their support of our summer of cricket, including men’s and women’s Ashes series and the participation of English players in the BBL.

"The returning players are Sam Billings, George Garton, Saqib Mahmood, Tymal Mills, Reece Topley and James Vince. Clubs will confirm their departure dates via squad releases and social channels."

The news is another blow to the BBL. Melbourne Stars are currently without 18 people – 10 players and eight back-room staff – due to Covid, with others teams also limping through amid mass withdrawals.

With travel proving difficult, finding high-quality replacements could be problematic.

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