England all-rounder Moeen Ali tests positive for coronavirus upon arrival in Sri Lanka

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AFP via Getty Images
Will Macpherson4 January 2021

England all-rounder Moeen Ali has tested positive for Covid-19 upon arrival in Sri Lanka and must observe 10 days in self-isolation, effectively ruling him out of the First Test on January 14.

An ECB statement revealed that Moeen had tested positive for coronavirus on the team’s round of testing on arrival at Hambantota Airport, in Sri Lanka’s south, for the start of the tour.

Moeen is said to be asymptomatic.

The rest of the touring party tested negative, but all-rounder Chris Woakes has been deemed a close contact of Moeen’s and will have to self-isolate and undergo further testing. He is expected to be in isolation for a minimum of seven days.

The rest of the touring party will be tested again on Tuesday morning. If those tests come back negative, the group – with the exception of Moeen and Woakes – will be allowed out of their rooms to train.

Originally that training session was due to take place on Tuesday, but will now be Wednesday at the earliest.

England are due to leave Hambantota for Galle, where the two Tests are being played, on January 9.

After England are tested for Covid tomorrow, Moeen will be moved to new accommodation in Galle in order to self-isolate until January 13.

England’s players were all tested for Covid-19 before departing the UK, with the whole party coming back negative and cleared to travel.

At this stage, it does not appear that the series is at risk but more positive Tests will through the Tests into doubt.

The two tours England have attempted since the Covid-19 pandemic struck have both been called off early. They left Sri Lanka in March before a competitive ball was bowled, and came home from South Africa in December without playing three ODIs.

With England in Sri Lanka are the ECB’s Chief Medical Officer, Nick Peirce, the Covid Compliance Officer Phil Davies and the Managing Director of Men’s Cricket Ashley Giles, who have put in place arrangements for Moeen.

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