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Ian Watmore, the chairman of the England and Wales Cricket Board, insists he has until the plane departs for Australia in November to settle any issues that could prevent the Ashes tour from going ahead.
England are expected to pick the Ashes squad next week, after the players have been given final details of quarantine and COVID arrangements. Any who decide to withdraw will tell the England management before the Ashes squad is picked.
The Test specialists are expected to leave for Australia on November 4 or 5 with those playing in the Twenty20 World Cup joining up after that competition finishes on November 15.
With captain Joe Root failing to fully commit to the tour this week, there are still tricky negotiations to be held with the England players as they hold out for the best possible conditions for their families to travel to Australia.
“We’re working hard to avoid any withdrawals,” said Watmore. “Cricket Australia know what we need to make the tour successful, and they’re working with their government and state governments to deliver it. We need to see the detail, check it out with the players and management, and either push back or commit. We’re only part-way through the process.
“It’s not a red-line type of discussion, but we’re working hard to provide an environment in which our players and their families want to go and perform to their best. If Australia can deliver that, then great. If not, we may have to have more challenging discussions.
England captain Joe Root is yet to fully commit to the summer Ashes tour.Credit:Getty
“We are trying to get the best environment to get the whole squad out there. It is a complicated picture. There is no simple ‘It must be decided by x’, apart from when that plane goes to Australia.”
Root, speaking after he was named the Cinch Professional Cricketers’ Association player of the year, is expected to make himself available, but said: “I feel it’s so hard to make a definite decision until you know,” he said. “That’s why it’s so important that we get all the information. I’m desperate to be part of an Ashes series, I always am, it’s that one series, as an England player, that you want to be involved in and that will never change.