Ali tests positive for virus as England arrives in Sri Lanka

HAMBANTOTA, Sri Lanka (AP) — England allrounder Moeen Ali was isolating in Sri Lanka on Monday after testing positive for the coronavirus upon his arrival in the South Asian country for the team’s two-test cricket tour.

Pace bowler Chris Woakes has been deemed as a possible close contact of Ali and was also observing a period of self-isolation in developments which have cast an early shadow on the tour that takes place weeks after a white-ball trip to South Africa was derailed by a spate of positive COVID-19 results.

The whole squad was given a clean bill of health prior to departure and again after quick turnaround testing on arrival in Hambantota on Sunday, only for the more-sophisticated PCR process to show Ali was carrying the virus, according to the England and Wales Cricket Board.

Ali is due out of isolation on Jan. 13, the day before the first test starts in Galle. Woakes is being advised to isolate for a minimum of seven days.

England’s players were hosed down with disinfectant spray after disembarking their charter flight, before being kept in 48-hour solitary quarantine in a hotel. They will undergo testing for a second time on Tuesday, with plans to begin training having been delayed until Wednesday at the earliest.

The 33-year-old Ali will be transported from the current team hotel to a private establishment in Galle from Tuesday. Being unable to take part in any training sessions until the day before the first test leaves the spinning allrounder as a major doubt to start.

That is a blow to England, with spin sure to play a major role on one of the world’s most renowned turning tracks. Dom Bess and Jack Leach are the spinners likely to play if Ali is not selected.

Woakes has a better chance of building up to match fitness and will remain on site in Hambantota, where he will be monitored by medical staff.

The second test starts Jan. 22 and is also in Galle.

England captain Joe Root said before flying to Sri Lanka that confirmed cases of the coronavirus would not be a threat to a series that has been rescheduled from March, when England left Sri Lanka following the initial outbreak of the virus.

“It’s a really dangerous virus and wherever we will be, we will be in contact with it in some shape or form,” Root said.

“If so, we have to manage it as best as possible. We’re as best prepared as we can be for it and we’re fully aware of what we’re getting ourselves into. I don’t think (a confirmed case) will end in an automatic end of the tour.”

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