Tim Paine pins hopes on smooth conduct of the Ashes after Vaughan's 'disappointing' comments

The ongoing pandemic has been causing concerns for the conduct of the Ashes series. The men’s Ashes is scheduled to start in under four months and ahead of the marquee clash, the Covid protocols have raised a few questions which are acting as hurdles. Former England captain Michael Vaughan has asserted that the series is under huge threat. He raised concerns about the families traveling with the players and also about the quarantine period.

Vaughan also put forward the possible scenario of withdrawal of some key players from the series due to these concerns. However, the Australian Test captain Tim Paine termed Vaughan’s comments as disappointing. Paine pinned his hopes on a successful Ashes by recounting the instance when Australia hosted India for the red ball series. Paine also added that the boards of both the countries are working towards it and that things will work out.

“What has been disappointing around that is some of the commentary coming out of England about the Ashes being under threat, from a former England captain Michael Vaughan. “Last year we had the same stuff going on with the Indian team. The discussions were going on with the two governments and we not only managed to get the Indian players here but their families. I’m sure both the Australian government and the English government are working together, and we’ll get it on. It’s such a huge event for both countries. They’ll find a way, they always do.” Paine said SEN Hobart’s Jack & Painey

The England chief had previously expressed his confidence in Ashes going ahead successfully

The first Ashes Test is scheduled to commence on December 8 in Brisbane. Owing to Australia’s tight border controls, the England players have been concerned about their families not joining them for the Ashes series. There are also uncertainties about the arrangements of the bubble environments and the quarantine period. However, Tom Harrison, the ECB chief admitted the concerns and suggested that all the necessary exemptions would be achieved.

“It’s going to be important for us to ensure that we can give comfort to players that their families are going to be able to be in Australia and that those conditions in which they are quarantined will be reasonable, enabling the players to be at their best in that Test series. It’s a conversation that’s going to take place over the next few weeks but I am very confident we will get to a place where we can fulfill our obligations to tour,” he had said as reported by SportsMole.