ENG vs IND: Manchester Test likely to go ahead; Ravindra Jadeja ruled out, Shami to replace Bumrah

Dark clouds were looming over the 5th Test between England and India after assistant physio Yogesh Parmar tested positive for the COVID-19. There were reports that ECB had asked the BCCI to forfeit the Manchester Test. However, the apex body said they’ll take a call after seeing the RT PCR results of the Indian players.

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In a positive development, all Indian players have tested negative for COVID-19 and the final Test of the series is all set to go ahead.

“All the players have tested negative and that’s the good news. But let’s keep our fingers crossed that the match would go ahead,” a senior BCCI source said.

BBC Test Match Special tweeted, “The ECB (England and Wales Cricket Board) say that all the India players PCR COVID Tests have come back negative and the Old Trafford Test goes ahead as planned.”

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This was the fifth case of COVID-19 in the Indian camp after head coach Ravi Shastri, bowling coach Bharat Arun, fielding coach R Sridhar and physiotherapist Nitin Patel tested positive for the virus.

It is learnt that a senior member from the Indian team is not in favour of the match going ahead as he feels the situation can become worse if anyone tests positive on matchdays. ECB chairman Tom Harrison is trying to address his concern. However, if the talks don’t reach any conclusion, the BCCI is likely to rest that player from the fifth game.

Meanwhile, the fifth Test is set to get underway today, September 10th, at Old Trafford. Team India is likely to make two changes in the team. Ace pacer Jasprit Bumrah is likely to be rested having bowled 151 overs in the series. Meanwhile, Ravindra Jadeja has been ruled out due to an ankle sprain.