Melbourne: England head coach Chris Silverwood will miss the fourth Ashes Test in Sydney next week after a family member tested positive for COVID-19 and he must isolate for 10 days, the England and Wales Cricket Board said in a statement on Wednesday.


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The fourth Test is due to start next Tuesday with Australia having already retained the Ashes, leading the series 3-0 with two matches to play.


"Following the latest round of PCR tests administered to the England men`s touring party on Wednesday 29 December, one family member has tested positive," the ECB statement read.


"As a result of the positive test, England men`s head coach Chris Silverwood will have to isolate for 10 days, along with his family, in Melbourne and will miss the fourth Ashes Test."



England have struggled with a COVID-19 outbreak that was discovered before the start of the second day of third Test in Melbourne. Seven positive cases - three support staff and four family members - have been found in the camp this week.


England and Australia players were cleared to play day three in Melbourne after all testing negative for COVID-19, with the hosts seeing out the victory by an innings and 14 runs to retain the urn.



A fourth successive round of PCR tests will be administered on Thursday. Both England and Australia are due to fly to Sydney via a chartered flight on Friday morning.


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