Ashes 2021 New Covid-19 Guidelines: Australia and England players will not be allowed to sign autographs in the upcoming 3rd and 4th Tests at Melbourne & Sydney. Cricket Australia has revised its biosecurity protocols to Level 4 restrictions for the next two Ashes Tests due to the rising coronavirus cases in Melbourne and Sydney. As per the new ‘strict norms’, the players won’t be allowed to drink in bars, get haircuts and work out in public gyms. Follow Ashes 2021 LIVE updates on InsideSport.IN
Ashes 2021 New Covid-19 Guidelines: England, Australian players can’t sign autographs as Covid-19 threat looms large
The visitors are also barred from eating out in restaurants after Pat Cummins was found to be in close contact with a COVID patient and ruled out of Adelaide Test. The new measures are part of stringent COVID rules but the players will avoid hotel quarantine. Cricket Australia has taken the step to lessen the chance of COVID positive case as players are susceptible to miss matches if they are in close contact with COVID patients.
‘At the moment we are under strict guidelines to only go out in groups of three maximum — can you imagine if the entire bowling unit was out together to eat and got pinged?’ a player told DailyMail.
The two teams have accepted stringent COVID norms for the next part of the Ashes tour that will continue to last till the Hobart Test in January. Even the players will not be allowed to pose for selfies or have haircuts for some time.
The coronavirus cases are rapidly increasing in NSW and Victoria and the new elevated protocols have been made to ensure the smooth conduction of the third and fourth Ashes Tests that will be played in Melbourne and Sydney.
As per The Sun Herald, players are banned from drinking in bars, getting haircuts, and working out in public gyms for the Boxing Day Test and new year Test in Sydney.
New restrictions for the Melbourne & Sydney Test
- The players will not be allowed to go out and drink in bars
- They will be banned from getting haircuts and working out in public gyms
- They will be prohibited from mixing with the crowd and won’t be allowed to sign autographs or take selfies with fans in Melbourne and Sydney Test
- All players can only visit family or friends in an outside setting
- Players that opt to stay at home rather than team hotel will undergo Covid test before rejoining the team
Also read: AUS vs ENG Live: ‘Has Cameron Green got a bunny?’ removes Joe Root again – Watch video
Ashes 2021 New Covid-19 Guidelines: England, Australian players can’t sign autographs as Covid-19 threat looms large
Earlier Pat Cummins got ruled out of the ongoing Adelaide Test after being deemed as close contact to a covid-positive person. The new guidelines have been so that no such further issues appear for the next two Tests.
Meanwhile, Pat Cummins has completed his isolation and will resume his training for the third Test. He has been confirmed available for the Boxing Day Test at Melbourne Cricket Ground beginning December 26.
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