England Test players wait on Cricket Australia and government information before making Ashes call

A large number of the red-ball squad - as many as 10, including some senior members - are not keen on making the trip unless they are allowed to bring their young families with them

England's Test stars are still waiting for further information from Cricket Australia and the Australian government before making a final decision on whether or not to pull out of this winter's Ashes tour.

A large number of players - as many as 10, including some senior members of the red-ball squad - are not keen on making the trip unless they are allowed to bring their young families with them. Long periods of quarantine during the holiday period would prevent school-age children making the trip.

After nearly a year and a half of bouncing between bio-secure bubbles to ensure fixtures were fulfilled through the Covid-19 pandemic, there is a general reluctance to commit to another 10 weeks in similar circumstances Down Under, where lockdown restrictions remain stringent.

It remains inconceivable that Cricket Australia will postpone the series, but England captain Joe Root has said his team needs to know more about the nature of the quarantine restrictions the players, partners and children are likely to face.

“They are conversations we will have with the ECB,” Root told reporters on Tuesday.

^{Joe Root and England are due to tour Australia this winter}

“One thing we are waiting on is a little bit more information. Until we get that from Cricket Australia and their government, we just have to concentrate on this series and make sure that doesn’t become a distraction.

“I think it’s really important we keep talking about it as a squad, and a team, working closely with the ECB. There is still a lot to consider. We will keep trying to do everything we can to keep good communication through the right channel.”

The situation forms an unwanted backdrop for the ongoing Test series against India.

England, inspired by another Root century, romped to an innings win in the third match of the campaign at Headingley last week, meaning the two sides are tied at 1-1 with two games to play.

“There’s a few things we could do without right now," Root said.

“But that’s part and parcel of things and how they are at the moment. You have to just take it in your stride as a team. Sometimes things like this can bring you closer as a group and create a strong bond, and hopefully we can manage that in the right way and use it as an advantage.”