England touring party test negative for Covid-19 ahead of quarantine in Sri Lanka

The touring party touched down at the Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport in Hambantota on Sunday before undergoing a thorough disinfecting and testing process

The Cricketer | 03/01/2021 at 11:07

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England's cricketers have all tested negative for Covid-19 following their arrival in Sri Lanka, and will now undergo a period of isolation ahead of the two-Test series.

The touring party touched down at the Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport in Hambantota on Sunday before undergoing a thorough disinfecting and testing process.

With all players and coaches returning negative PCR tests, the group have since moved to their hotel where they will each be quarantined in individual rooms until Tuesday.

A second set of tests will be processed at that point and, should a full set of negatives be recorded, England will be allowed to begin training from Tuesday afternoon.

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^{Amar Virdi, left, and head coach Chris Silverwood arrive in Sri Lanka}

The first Test against Sri Lanka is scheduled to take place in Galle from January 14, with the second match following at the same venue from January 22.

England's last overseas trip during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic - a limited-overs tour of South Africa - was abandoned in December after a handful of members of staff at the team's Cape Town hotel tested positive.

England have taken a large group to Sri Lanka, with 16 members of the official Test squad joined by seven reserves. Seven coaches plus medical staff and analysts make up a considerable travelling party.

No members of the UK media have been permitted to travel to the South Asian island to cover the series.