Sri Lanka batting coach Grant Flower tested positive for coronavirus Friday; shortly after the Sri Lankan tour of England concluded. The news comes as the Sri Lankan cricket team prepares for a home series against India. Flower, 50; had returned from England, where Sri Lanka played a one-day and Twenty20 international series and was preparing for next week’s India games when he showed coronavirus symptoms. “Immediately upon identification; Flower was isolated from the rest of the team members who are undergoing quarantine following their return from England,” the board said.
England Board Said about Grant flower:
It said Flower showed “mild symptoms”, prompting a Covid-19 test. Soon after the Sri Lanka team’s return, three players and four support staff members of the England team tested positive for Covid-19. The trio of Sri Lankan players, who violated their bio-secure bubble just before the start of their one-day international series in Durham; were recalled and are facing disciplinary action. The England cricket team was forced to select a new playing XI after seven members of the team tested positive for coronavirus earlier this week. Three players and four members of the backroom staff tested positive for the virus. The team is now being led by Ben Stokes, as most of the players are undergoing isolation.
Sri Lanka team’s data analyst tests positive for #COVID19, second case after batting coach Grant Flower
Read: https://t.co/PCkvEqkwPu#SLvIND #COVID pic.twitter.com/7cKewIRhRy
— TOI Sports (@toisports) July 9, 2021
SL team Covid-19 Update:
Entire SL squad have tested NEGATIVE following Batting Coach Grant Flower’s positive result on Thursday (8).
India series unaffected.
Yet officials have allegedly reprimanded SL Coaching Staff for ignoring bio-security protocols during quarantine. pic.twitter.com/Qg9ZiyqGRw
— The Morning Sports (@TheMorningSpor1) July 9, 2021
England skipper Eoin Morgan had earlier said it would be too soon to consider Stokes as a member of the playing XI. The all-rounder was out of the squad for the past several weeks due to an injured finger.