Match abandoned due to COVID-19 pandemic
By Telford Vice
England's crisis-crippled tour of South Africa took another hit on Sunday (December 6) when the already delayed first ODI was abandoned. The two teams are scheduled to play the second ODI in Cape Town on December 7, but the fate of the remainder of the three-match series hangs in balance.
Two members of the hotel staff, where both squads are staying, were found to have contracted COVID-19, prompting England to re-test their party on Saturday evening. "Following the test results, two members of the England touring party have returned unconfirmed positive tests for COVID-19," CSA said in a statement on Sunday. "The players and management are now self-isolating in their rooms until further advice from the medical teams," it added.
Although the match was scheduled to begin at 10am (South Africa time), by 9am, neither squad had reached the ground in Paarl. CSA and the ECB said the start would be delayed, but just less than half-an-hour before the first ball was due to be bowled, the news that the game had been called off was broadcast by the rightsholders.
The three-match series was to have begun at Newlands on Friday. The game was postponed after a South Africa player tested positive on Thursday. South Africa re-tested their players on Friday, and were given a clean bill of health. Because England reported no cases from Thursday's tests, they did not undergo another round of tests - until the discovery of the disease among the hotel staff.
However, Sunday's news will now force a rethink about the rest of the tour, which started with England winning a T20I series 3-0. "A decision on the remaining matches in the series will be taken once the results of the tests are ratified independently by medical experts," CSA maintained.
Team News
South Africa
South Africa are without Faf du Plessis, rested, and Kagiso Rabada, injured, but at least they look set to have David Miller and Andile Phehlukwayo back after the pair missed the T20I series. The hosts look set to include two spinners with George Linde, so impressive in the T20s, joining Tabraiz Shamsi. It will be Linde's ODI debut.
Possible XI: Quinton de Kock, Janneman Malan, Jon-Jon Smuts, Rassie van der Dussen, Kyle Verreynne, David Miller, Andile Phehlukwayo, George Linde, Lungi Ngidi, Anrich Nortje, Tabraiz Shamsi
England
Joe Root and Chris Woakes, two mainstays of the ODI team, return after missing the T20s while Moeen Ali could be given his first run out of the tour. Sam Billings impressed during the summer and will play in the middle order.
Possible XI: Jason Roy, Jonny Bairstow, Joe Root, Eoin Morgan, Jos Buttler, Sam Billings, Moeen Ali, Chris Woakes, Tom Curran, Mark Wood, Adil Rashid
Squads:
South Africa Squad: Quinton de Kock(w/c), Janneman Malan, JJ Smuts, Rassie van der Dussen, Kyle Verreynne, David Miller, Andile Phehlukwayo, George Linde, Lungi Ngidi, Anrich Nortje, Tabraiz Shamsi, Temba Bavuma, Beuran Hendricks, Keshav Maharaj, Junior Dala, Heinrich Klaasen, Lutho Sipamla, Glenton Stuurman
England Squad: Jason Roy, Jonny Bairstow, Joe Root, Eoin Morgan(c), Jos Buttler(w), Sam Billings, Moeen Ali, Chris Woakes, Tom Curran, Adil Rashid, Mark Wood, Lewis Gregory, Olly Stone, Reece Topley, Liam Livingstone