The Ashes. The sheer name conjures images of years and years of battle on the cricket field. It is the pre-eminent trophy in the cricketing world. No other, not even the ODI World Cup can come close to match the novelty and sheer experience of an Ashes series. England and Australia are loathe to lose to the other. Rightly or wrongly, legacies and careers are decided by the Ashes. Atleast for players involved in both the teams. Ian Botham, the English all-rounder once remarked before the 1992 World Cup against Australia that he wanted to defeat Australia in front of 100,000 convicts. As sad as it is, the Ashes series later this year is in a strife. Ashes series may not happen at all.
What are the current issues?
Yes, 2022-23 Ashes may not happen at all. This is because of the strict quarantine rules in Australia. The wives and girlfriends of all the English players usually travel with the team to Australia. This has been happening for a very long time. It has become customary for the English players and their families to spend Christmas and New Year in Australia once every 4 years. This perhaps will not be allowed this year because of the pandemic. None of the English players wants to be away from their family for the entire duration of the tour which is likely to stretch beyond 3 months.
Australia’s international borders remain shut with the number of arrivals into the country being limited. This makes allowing girlfriends and wives travelling with the players, difficult. Even if they are able to, they will still have to undergo the same quarantine period.
Second, the players are expected to undergo rigorous quarantine for 14 days. They will not be allowed to go out of their hotel rooms for more than 2 hours a day. That too for practise only. In any case, England must be within the confines of the hotel and the ground for 14 days. This is something not acceptable for any of them.
Will the Ashes be cancelled?
Though this is a possibility, it still is doubtful. The financial implication over such cancellation is too gigantic to contemplate for Cricket Australia. They can still go ahead and arrange for an alternate series but the windfall from an Ashes series is too enormous to miss out unless the alternate series is with India which is ruled out.
Australia Covid situation
The Covid situation in Australia when compared at the world level is not that alarming but the Delta variant is causing a few stir. 20% of the population are vaccinated with hope for 70% to be vaccinated before December.
What is the likely scenario?
The English players are happy to undergo quarantine for themselves, they are unwilling to put their family through the same process. There is a chance that all the players and the entire coaching staff will take a collective decision not to tour. A couple of proposals were put forward by the players during their meeting the Tom Harrison. One, to play the series next year. Two, to split the series between this year and next year. Both those proposals weren’t acceptable for the ECB.
ECB have given the players time till the end of September to confirm their decision to tour. In the meanwhile, the players are waiting for details regarding the type of quarantine do they have to undergo.
All of these have given rise to the prospect of England fielding a second-string side for the Ashes. It may become a reality. ECB and CA will be able to fulfilled their commitment but I do not think that the broadcasters will be happy to see any English team. They want to see the best English team visit Australia.
Things will be much clearer in about a month.