ENG vs IND: Team India signed a midnight letter to urge BCCI to cancel the 5th Test

ENG vs IND: Team India signed a midnight letter to urge BCCI to cancel the 5th Test

Indian Cricket Team

A lot of speculations and rumors are doing rounds in the cricket fraternity regarding the reason behind the postponement of the last Test of the five-match series between India and England. The two teams were scheduled to play against each other from September 10 to September 15 in the fifth Test at the Emirates Old Trafford in Manchester. 

Due to the Covid-19 scare in the Indian camp, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) decided to suspend the match. The two boards are constantly in touch with each other to decide the future of the last game. As per the latest reports, the two cricket bodies are thinking on the lines of postponing the series for the next year when India will be touring England for the white-ball series.

It is revealed that the main reason behind the suspension of the league is the apprehensions in the visitors camp. Many players weren’t sure about playing amidst the Covid-19 scare. In a  report by Telegraph Sport, it is revealed that the entire team came together to sign a letter just a few hours before the last Test to cancel the match. 

Team India leading the series by 2-1

Indian
Joe Root and Virat Kohli

Currently, the series is leveled at 2-1. The first Test between the two sides in Nottingham ended in a draw as the game was washed out due to rain. The second Test saw the Indian team completely outclassing the hosts by 151 runs at the Lord’s in London. Englishmen made a comeback in the third match to level the series by 1-1.

The fourth Test again witnessed the exploits by the visitors as they defeated England in London by 157 runs. After the fourth Test match, there was a significant rise in the Covid-19 cases in the Virat Kohli-led camp. Ravi Shastri was the first member of the Indian camp to test positive for the novel coronavirus.

This was followed by bowling coach Bharath Arun and fielding coach R Sridhar. Head physio Nitin Patel is also under isolation. The panic kicked in the visitors’ camp as just a day before the fifth Test, the junior physio Yogesh Parmar returned a positive result. 

Also Read: ENG vs IND: Indian players test negative for Covid-19