Ashes series is under threat after ‘unacceptable’ decision

England cricket legend Michael Vaughan has publicly declared the 2021-22 Ashes series in Australia should be “called off”.

The former England captain said reports that players could be forced to tour Australia without their families for four months was “unacceptable”.

The reports this week suggest England’s touring squad will be forced to say goodbye to their family members, who may not be allowed into Australia as part of Australia’s ongoing strict border protection measures.

Australia’s Covid-19 restrictions mean the border is closed to all travellers from abroad, while Cricket Australia is reportedly seeking special permission for the partners and children of players and staff to be allowed to join the players this summer.

According to dailymail.co.uk, England players are worried their families won’t be granted permission to join them as they arrive in Australia in November.

Tim Paine returned with the urn.Source:Getty Images

Vaughan posted on Twitter Wednesday morning it is too much to ask England’s players to be away from their families for such an extended period.

England’s players will also be without their families for their tours of Bangladesh and Pakistan, beginning in September, before starting their T20 World Cup campaign in India from October.

Test players will then arrive in Australia in November ahead of the First Ashes Test at the Gabba in Brisbane, beginning December 8.

“Read reports today that England cricketers may not be able to have family members with them down under this winter, quite simply if they can’t they should call the Ashes off,” Vaughan wrote.

“4 months away from your family is totally unacceptable.”

It comes after Kevin Pietersen also slammed the decision to play the Ashes in such conditions in a tweet that included a middle-finger emoji.

“Any ENG player that pulls out of this Ashes, if they seriously can’t see their families for FOUR MONTHS, has my full backing,” he posted on Twitter.

Australia was able to complete the 2020-21 series against India.Source:AFP

“Families are the most important part of a players make up. And even more so in the current climate.”

England keeper Jos Buttler earlier said it would be “difficult” for England to win back the Ashes urn while playing without the support of their loved-ones.

“That [bringing back Ashes] would be a huge challenge, especially when you are accustomed to being able to take your family,” Buttler said in the dailymail.co.uk report.

“A lot of the guys have young families, so I am sure they would find that tough. Hopefully, a positive solution can be found.”

The Ashes summer will begin in Brisbane at the Gabba, followed by a day-night Test at Adelaide Oval (December 16-20).

The traditional Boxing Day Test (December 26-30) will be at the MCG and New Year’s Test at the SCG (January 5-9) before the series finishes in Perth from January 14-18.

It will be the first time since 1995 that an Ashes series on home soil has not concluded at the SCG.

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