England’s entire one-day squad have been forced into isolation by a Covid-19 outbreak ahead of the Pakistan series, with the returning Ben Stokes set to captain a brand new replacement group featuring nine uncapped players.
After three players and four staff members tested positive on Monday the England and Wales Cricket Board moved at breakneck pace to salvage Thursday’s first ODI at Cardiff, as well as games at Lord’s and Edgbaston.
A shadow squad was hastily convened to fulfil the fixtures under Stokes’ guidance, with a raid on the ongoing round of LV= County Championship matches, while counterparts at the Pakistan Cricket Board were contacted to establish the safety of continuing.
Gloucestershire
United-kingdom
Bristol
City-of
India
Middlesex
United-kingdom-general
Edgbaston
Birmingham
Sri-lanka
Pakistan
Essex