Sam Curran undergoes COVID-19 test; self-isolates after 'sickness and diarrhoea'

England all-rounder Sam Curran was tested for COVID-19 on Thursday. The test was conducted for the cricketer after he felt unwell overnight. At present, he is quarantined in his hotel room at The Ageas Bowl. This also means that he has been ruled out from the remaining practice sessions being held for upcoming England vs West Indies Test series.

All the sports events across the world were suspended from March in the wake of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. The West Indies tour of England will mark the return of the game of cricket after four months. England is expected to play a three-match Test series against Caribbeans from July 8 to July 28. The matches will be held in a bio-secure environment to ensure the safety of the players.

Sam Curran self-isolated after feeling unwell

In the statement released by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), it was informed that Sam was tested for novel coronavirus and he will not be a part of the practice match. Also, Curran would be allowed to join the England squad again only if he gets perfectly fit. Though the statement didn’t clarify the results of the tests conducted on him.

The statement read, “England all-rounder Sam Curran has had sickness and diarrhoea overnight. He is feeling better this afternoon and has been self-isolating in his room at the Ageas Bowl. He will play no further part in the practice match. He has been monitored by the team doctor throughout and was tested for COVID-19 earlier today.”

Sam scored 15 not out on the first day of England’s intra-squad warm-up match. A 30-player squad was called by the ECB to train for the upcoming Test series against West Indies. The playing XI for the three-Test matches would be selected by conducting the intra-squad practice matches.

The England and Wales Cricket Board had carried out over 700 COVID-19 tests of players, support staff, match officials, hotel staff, and other members in the month of June. All of them were allowed in the biosecure environment set up by ECB only after they were tested negative for the deadly virus. Also, no person is allowed to move out of the venue without prior permission from the concerned authorities.