The five-match Test series between India and England came to an abrupt end on Friday (September 10) after the fifth and final Test was called off due to the COVID-19 scare in the Indian team’s camp. As many as four positive cases have been reported in the Indian contingent over the last few days leading to the cancellation of the fifth Test.
India’s junior physio Yogesh Parmar was the latest one from the team’s support staff to test positive after head coach Ravi Shastri, bowling coach Bharat Arun and fielding coach R Sridhar. The fifth Test was called off hours before the scheduled start of the game at Old Trafford in Manchester with the England Cricket Board (ECB) confirming that the Indian team was unable to field a team due to rising COVID-19 cases in its camp.
Harrison hinted at mental fatigue caused by spending a significant amount of time in strict bio-bubbled coupled with the fears caused by the rise in COVID-19 cases in the Indian team’s camp led to the cancellation of the fifth Test.
“It’s been a long night. It’s just really sad. You can’t be flippant about issues of mental health, and this is what this is about. India have been wonderful tourists, but they have been here for a long time. Playing at this level, week after week, is difficult.,” Harrison told the BBC.
The ECB CEO also rubbished the rumours of the Indian team deciding to forfeit the fifth Test match due to the second leg of Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021 in UAE from September 19. Several reports had claimed that Indian players didn’t want to take a risk by playing the fifth Test ahead of IPL 2021’s second leg. However, Harrison asserted BCCI 100% wanted the Manchester Test to go on.
“Hopefully we can get this Test on some other time, but it won’t be the same as it having the conclusion after four brilliant matches. The BCCI, this India team and their captain want to make their mark in Test cricket. I don’t think the IPL should worry people who feel there is an agenda is at place here,” said the ECB CEO.
“I was on the phone all night. Once those fears creep in they can be very hard to shift. There are no winners in this one. I can tell you that 100% the BCCI wanted to get this game on. There is a strong relationship between the ECB and BCCI. We will definitely come through this, probably even stronger than we went in,” he added.
BCCI has already released a statement confirming that it is working with the England Cricket Board to conduct the now suspended fifth Test match at a later date.
