England’s cricketers are still awaiting details of quarantine, bubbles and entry restrictions for the tour and several, including captain Joe Root, have fallen short of unequivocally committing to one of the biggest events on the world cricket calendar.
England Vice Captain Jos Buttler hopes to have clarity on this winter’s Ashes tour “in the next few days” but has reiterated that he would not consider traveling if his family were unable to join him in Australia.
Buttler is preparing to fly to the UAE next week for the Twenty20 World Cup, but it is still up in the air if he will also take part in this winter’s test series in Australia.
England’s cricketers are still awaiting details of quarantine, bubbles and entry restrictions for the tour and several, including captain Joe Root, have fallen short of unequivocally committing to one of the biggest events on the world cricket calendar.
As the voice of Buttler, Root’s right-hand man, he carries significant weight, but, having welcomed his second daughter, family circumstances mean he is more willing than most to lay down the ground rules before making a decision.
However, what is clear is that no family means that there are no Ashes for the 31-year-old.
When asked if that was a red line for him, Buttler said: “Yes, definitely for me. If I had to do a World Cup and an Ashes, four, five months without seeing my family, I would not feel comfortable doing that”.
“We are still waiting for more information, as soon as possible. Hopefully, there will be more information in the next few days. As soon as you get it, it will be easier to know what decision you are making.
“The ECB and Cricket Australia will work very hard together to do their best. It is difficult to make a decision when you do not have all the answers. In times of Covid, there will always be some kind of question that is difficult to answer.
“It could be changeable, it would be naive not to say it in the times we live in, but you want to arrive with as many guarantees as possible.”
There are very few gaps in Buttler’s résumé after 10 years as an international cricketer, but he has yet to play for an Ashes overseas, something he is desperate to correct if circumstances permit.
Speaking at Sixes Cricket Club, where he was featured as the official sponsor ambassador for Booking.com for the T20 World Cup, Buttler added: “Fingers crossed. I have not experienced an Ashes tour in Australia.
“Certainly, as an England player, it’s something you want to be a part of. It’s pretty obvious it’s the most challenging tour to be a part of.”
The challenge this time will be exacerbated by the absence of visiting fans in the stands, but that is the prospect that awaits given the harshness of Australia’s border since the start of the pandemic.
“Of course you want all the support you can get,” Buttler said. “I think the Barmy Army is an incredible group of fans and Australia always seems to be one that sticks in my mind, seeing them so visible on the grounds.”
“Whether it’s good news or bad news on the pitch, their support is quite surprising and it will be a big mistake. But if that’s the scenario, there are no English fans, then you have to take that siege mentality and use that back to the … wall feeling like something positive.
“You need to change that perception and use everything positive you can to improve your performance.”
ECB President Ian Watmore had previously revealed that he was prepared for the ashes issue to continue to rumble.
“There is no simple date that you have to decide by, other than when that plane is going to Australia,” he told the Daily Mail.
“There are issues that CA must resolve with its government and that the federal government must resolve with state governments. We are working hard to provide an environment where our players and their families want to go and perform at their best. If Australia can pull it off, great If not, we may have more challenging discussions. “
