ENGLAND’S bowlers will have to wait to begin training after their planned comeback today was abandoned.
The likes of James Anderson, Stuart Broad and Ben Stokes were due to bowl properly for the first time since the start of the Covid-19 crisis.
But their return has been put on hold because not all the seven venues are ready.
A total of 15 fast and spin red-ball bowlers had been invited to turn up at grounds such as the Oval, Edgbaston, Trent Bridge, Old Trafford and Durham.
The idea was to start bowling with the aim of cranking up their workload and being 100 per cent ready for the First Test against West Indies, which is planned to be staged behind closed doors at the Ageas Bowl in Southampton on July 8.
The bowlers were due to arrive in training kit, work one-on-one with a coach for 60-90 minutes and observe social-distancing and strict hygiene requirements such as only the bowler being allowed to touch balls with bare hands.
But now they must wait until either Thursday or Friday before receiving clearance to resume or maybe into next week.
The problem is that the strict protocols laid down by the government for a ‘stage one’ return to action for elite athletes are not yet in place at every ground.
These might include things such as fully cleaned and sanitised indoor nets in case of rain or a gym area.
Each player will be accompanied by a coach as well as a medic, who will wear PPE to treat any injuries. The PPE, sourced and paid for by the ECB, has arrived.
Although some of the measures might seem extreme, the England team hierarchy know they must be seen to be doing the right thing and must adhere to government guidelines anyway.
A source said: “This is not a setback and the players fully understand the situation. We must make sure we have covered everything.”
England’s batsmen and wicketkeepers are due to begin training at the end of the month and the ECB will next week reveal the full squad of all 30 players involved.
