South Africa vs England ODI called off due to positive coronavirus test

The first ODI between South Africa and England in Cape Town, due to be played today, has been called off following a positive coronavirus test in the hosts’ camp. The match was due to start at 1pm local time, 11am in the UK. However, a member of the South Africa staff has returned a positive test for Covid-19. 

The three-match series will still go ahead and the match will be moved to Sunday.

The second ODI was meant to take place on Sunday, but that will now be on Monday, with the final match of the series next Wednesday.

England won the three-game T20 series against the same opponents earlier this week.

Jofra Archer and Ben Stokes have been rested for the ODIs following their participation in the IPL in October and November.

Ahead of the ODI series, England skipper Morgan was asked about the coded messages being sent from the balcony by the team’s analyst Nathan Leamon during the T20 matches.

Former England captain Michael Vaughan criticised the approach but Morgan says there is “nothing untoward” with the messages.

“It’s 100 per cent within the spirit of the game,” said Morgan.

“There’s no real signals. There’s always been constant communication, verbal or physical, from the changing room to us on field to help improve my decisions as captain and Jos Buttler’s decision as vice-captain.

“It’s about maximising information that we are taking in and measuring it against coaches recommendations, the data of what’s going on.

“There weren’t many decisions that varied from mine. There were three in the first game, two in the second and a couple in the third.

“We’re definitely going to continue with it and give it an enough sample size to see if it makes a difference or improves our decision-making on the field or our performance.”

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