MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - DECEMBER 27: England players arrive after a COVID scare in the team delayed their arrival, during day two of the Third Test match in the Ashes series between Australia and England at Melbourne Cricket Ground on December 27, 2021 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)
England's Ashes touring party has been rocked by a seventh COVID case, with coach Chris Silverwood to sit out of the New Year Test in Sydney, starting on January 5.
Six members of the touring party - three members of staff and three family members of players - had tested positive to the coronavirus during the Boxing Day Test.
Now Silverwood has also tested positive, leaving England short-staffed for the Sydney Test with all of those personnel in isolation for ten days under public health order restrictions in both Victoria and Australia.
According to The Daily Telegraph the other coaches to test positive are fast bowling coach Jon Lewis, spin bowling coach Jeetan Patel and strength and conditioning coach Darren Veness.
The report suggests England batting coach Graham Thorpe will become the head coach for the fourth Test.
The ECB confirmed Silverwood had tested positive in a statement.
“As a result of the positive test, England Men’s Head Coach Chris Silverwood will have to isolate for 10 days, along with his family, in Melbourne and will miss the fourth Ashes Test,” the ECB said.
“A fourth successive round of PCR tests will be administered today (Thursday).”
The playing group (and other members of the touring party) have been undergoing (and will continue to undergo) daily rapid and PCR tests to ensure they haven't also contracted the virus, and that the Ashes could continue.
The third test was almost brought to a grinding halt on Day 2, with play delayed by half an hour as England were delayed leaving their hotel room while waiting for rapid results.