The Sunday Mail
What happens now?
That was the question cricket fans around the world were asking after the dramatic last-minute cancellation of the deciding fifth Test between England and India in Manchester on Friday.
Following all-night talks, it was not until shortly before 9am, just over two hours before the scheduled start and minutes before the gates at Old Trafford were due to open to a sell-out crowd of 22,000, that the match was called off due to Covid-19 fears within the India camp — a decision that leaves English cricket facing a financial ‘black hole’ estimated at £40 million.
Reports a physiotherapist in close contact with the players had tested positive for Covid appeared to be the final straw in persuading an India side- already missing head coach Ravi Shastri, bowling coach Bharat Arun and fielding coach Ramakrishnan Sridhar due to positive Covid tests, with senior physiotherapist Nitin Patel self-isolating- not to take the field.
England had been in a similar situation in December when their one-day series in South Africa was postponed amid fears Covid had infiltrated the team, even if two positive tests were later found to be negative.
“I felt at the time England let South Africa down,” former England captain Michael Vaughan told the BBC.
“England flexed their muscles back then and I believe India have flexed their muscles now. “I honestly feel Indian cricket has let the English game down.” — AFP.
