Guernsey Press

Jos Buttler says England are preparing to play amid Indian Covid concerns

Final Test starts on Friday.

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Jos Buttler said England have “fingers crossed” that the fifth and final LV= Insurance Test goes ahead on Friday after India cancelled their final pre-match training session and media commitments amid reports of a new coronavirus scare.

The tourists were conspicuous by their absence at Emirates Old Trafford on the eve of the match, scrapping their afternoon net practice and failing to fulfil their mandatory press conference.

Head coach Ravi Shastri tested positive for Covid-19 during the fourth Test and did not travel to Manchester, alongside bowling coach Bharat Arun and fielding coach Ramakrishnan Sridhar.

It had been hoped that the outbreak had been contained after the remaining members of the travelling party tested negative on the final morning at the Kia Oval, where India wrapped up a 157-run win to lead the series 2-1, but reports from India suggest a fresh case was identified among the backroom staff.

England completed their final training session at Old Trafford, but India were nowhere to be seen.
England completed their final training session at Old Trafford, but India were nowhere to be seen (Martin Rickett/PA)

England completed their own pre-match preparations shortly after midday, with players, coaches and administrative staff all proceeding for the final men’s international fixture of the summer to go ahead as planned.

“At present we’re fully expecting the game to go ahead and we’re preparing to play tomorrow. Fingers crossed the game will go ahead,” said vice-captain Buttler.

“We don’t know too much to be honest. It would be naïve to speculate too much on stuff I don’t know about. Things are all fine in our camp. We trained well this morning so, yeah, we’re hopefully all looking forward to the game again tomorrow.”

The tournament, which was suspended earlier in the year due to the pandemic, is due to resume in the United Arab Emirates from September 19. It is a commercial behemoth, not only for the BCCI but for each contracted player.

The England and Wales Cricket Board has previous experience of Covid scuppering major matches, having previously abandoned a two-match Test series in Sri Lanka in March 2020 and a one-day series in South Africa in December. The former was fulfilled in January, but the latter remains unscheduled.

Assuming the drama comes to nothing and play does get under way on Friday morning, England are poised to make a late call on the make-up of their bowling attack.

“They’ve bowled fantastically well throughout the series and have been taking the opportunity to rest for a few days since the last game. They seem to be pulling up well,” said Buttler.

“Jimmy is an incredibly fit guy who looks after himself and Ollie is exactly the same. Fingers crossed they will be in good shape and available for selection.”

Buttler’s own return to the team after missing a match to attend the birth of his second child, looks likely to force Jonny Bairstow out. Captain Joe Root suggested Buttler’s leadership skills were a key part of the decision to hand him an immediate recall, but he admitted he needs to do better than his series poor series average of 14.40.

“I certainly haven’t played my best by a long stretch. I’ve been thinking that for the whole season really,” he said.

“You’ve just got to put the work in, train hard to give yourself the best chance of staying there for a long time in the middle and make some runs.”

Mark Wood is expected to return in place of Craig Overton, but Jack Leach may find himself edged out again if England opt against a second spinner.

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