The use of a previously banned networking facility in Newlands has emerged as a possible source of the Covid-19 infection within England’s camp, as the ECB responded to claims by western province officials that its players had violated the biosecurity of the equipment. setting for a practice session on the eve of the first ODI scheduled for Friday.
In an email sent Thursday, December 3 and seen by ESPNcricinfo, WP informed CSA, ECB, and Claremont Police, who are in charge of maintaining the equipment’s bio-bubble, that they cannot be held responsible for safety or security. Health. from the England team, who opted to practice at a netting facility next to a construction site at Kelvin Grove End of the ground.
“Please note that the England cricket team has not adhered to the arrangements agreed upon by everyone at the ESSPC [Event Security and Safety Planning Committee] meetings, “the email read.” Use of practice nets next to the construction site is not allowed on practice days. Three net cages were placed in the field plaza. This serves to inform you that the England cricket team has accessed and used the networks today (3 December 2020) at your own risk. The WPCA and ESSPC will not be responsible for the safety and health of the England cricket team. “
In response, an ECB spokesperson told ESPNcricinfo that the session had arisen due to the “unacceptable” standard of the three practice fields provided at Newlands Square, and that CSA had accepted England’s request to place a security cordon. to facilitate the use of networks under similar arrangements during the T20I series on November 28.
“Upon our arrival in Newlands on December 3, we informed the venue that the three networks provided in the main field were not of a standard for conducive practice, as per the Memorandum of Understanding signed by the respective boards,” said an ECB statement . “The batsmen were unable to take on the stitching bowlers in the main field nets as the surfaces were plastered and unacceptable.
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“We requested CSA that we would like to use the practice nets and create a security cordon to ensure that players and coaches could enter the facility safely, as was previously done on November 28. This was confirmed by the Team England Security, the Team Operations Manager and Team Doctor We are satisfied with this result and were able to practice on the net safely.
“The team also used the main field for fielding drills, a seam-thru-throw bowling toss and a series of nets were used to hit from a distance against bowlers and coaches.
“When it comes to the England tour, the safety and health of our players and coaches was not compromised.”
The networks in Newlands are currently off limits due to the construction of an office block at Kelvin Grove End of the ground. The work is attended by several workers throughout the day. When South African players, including Andile Phehlukwayo and David Miller, who missed the T20 series, and some support staff members attempted to network after the first postponed ODI on Friday, they were sent back and instructed to return to their hotel rooms.
At the time, a third South African player had just tested positive for the coronavirus, causing the first ODI to be rejected. On Saturday, two Vineyard Hotel staff members, who do not work in the same area and have not left the premises since November 16, also tested positive, prompting the entire England tour to be retested. . England had two “unconfirmed” positive results, but has tried to have the tests analyzed by doctors in London. The two cases from England meant Sunday’s ODI in Paarl was dropped.
The fate of the rest of the series, which has now been reduced to two ODIs, depends on the analysis of England’s results. If positive cases are confirmed, those infected and their close contacts will have to quarantine themselves in South Africa for 10 days before departing for the UK, which could affect Big Bash and Christmas plans. If the test results are negative, the series could be completed with consecutive ODIs on Tuesday and Wednesday.
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