Entire England squad forced to isolate after seven members of ODI party test positive for Covid-19

The seven people to test positive will now self-isolate, but crucially the remaining members of the party have also been deemed close contacts and will also isolate, forcing England to pick an entirely new squad for their ODI series against Pakistan

Three England players and four members of the white-ball team’s support staff have tested positive for Covid-19, but the upcoming series against Pakistan will still go ahead, albeit with the hosts having to select an entirely new squad that will be captained by Ben Stokes.

The seven positive tests occurred on Monday at Bristol, the day after England’s final ODI against Sri Lanka was abandoned at the halfway stage due to persistent rain.

The seven people to test positive will now self-isolate, but crucially the remaining members of the party have also been deemed close contacts and will also isolate.

Stokes, who has been stepping up his return from a broken finger by representing Durham in the T20 Blast and County Championship, will take over captaincy duties. Chris Silverwood, who was due to be on holiday, will return as coach.

ECB chief executive Tom Harrison said: “We have been mindful that the emergence of the Delta variant, along with our move away from the stringent enforcement of bio secure environments, could increase the chances of an outbreak.

^{England won the ODI series against Sri Lanka 2-0}

“We made a strategic choice to try to adapt protocols, in order to support the overall wellbeing of our players and management staff who have spent much of the last 14 months living in very restricted conditions.

“Overnight we have worked swiftly to identify a new squad, and we are grateful to Ben Stokes who will return to England duties to captain. We also recognise the impact this news will have on our first-class counties and their men’s playing squads and thank them, along with our partners Sky and Royal London, for their ongoing support in dealing with this pandemic.”

The County Championship has only just returned, but it seems inevitable now that several players will be pulled out of ongoing matches for last-gasp international places.

All of the players isolating have had at least one vaccination jab; while the majority are asymptomatic, some are feeling unwell.

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