ECB to make Ashes decision this week after consulting with players

The board will convene to rule on whether the conditions for the trip to Australia "are sufficient for the tour to go ahead"

Tim Paine insists "the Ashes are going ahead"

A decision over whether England will send a squad to compete for the Ashes in Australia this winter will be made this week.

The ECB board are due to meet to discuss the terms of the trip and whether they are sufficient for a squad to travel.

Players have been briefed of the conditions Cricket Australia have put in place with regard to quarantine and families being able to travel as part of the group.

Once all feedback has been gathered, a group including chairman Ian Watmore and chief executive Tom Harrison will meet to either sign off on the tour or request a short or lengthy delay.

The series is currently due to get underway in Brisbane on December 8.

A statement read: "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.

^{Are England set to pass on the Ashes?}

"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."

Australia prime minister Scott Morrison has already gone on record to rule out "special deals" for the families of England cricketers.

Boris Johnson has lobbied for loved ones to be allowed to travel but with nationwide restrictions not due to be lifted until 80 per cent of the country are vaccinated, there appears little room for negotiation.

Test captain Tim Paine last week claimed the series would go ahead regardless of whether England counterpart Joe Root travelled down under or not.

Root and vice-captain Jos Buttler, both of whom have young families, have both refused to commit to the tour until further details are known.