England’s first day of sold-out Test against India cancelled after tourists REFUSE to play following Covid outbreak

THE FIRST DAY of the fifth Test between England and India is OFF after the tourists suffered a Covid outbreak in their camp.

The news comes just hours before play was due to start at Old Trafford – even though no Indian players have tested positive for the virus.

Four members of India’s backroom staff have contracted coronavirus in the last week and the tourists have decided against playing.

The Indian Premier League is due to resume in just nine days’ time and it’s thought to have been one of the deciding factors in the decision.

It’s unclear whether the rest of the Test will proceed.

The first three days of the Test in Manchester was a sell-out and the English Cricket Board (ECB) could lose millions of pounds in revenue.

More to follow…