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England faces mass withdrawal before Ashes owing to Australia’s hard quarantine rules. As many as 10 England players could be forced to pull out of the Ashes tour of Australia if an agreement is not arrived at over travel and quarantine arrangements for their families.

According to a report, unhappy with Cricket Australia’s lack of progress on this front, many English players are considering pulling out if their demands are not met.

England Players May Pull Out As Australia Has The Strictest Quarantine Norms

At a meeting of the England squad at Headingley this week, it is understood there was mounting frustration about a lack of progress by Cricket Australia over quarantine rules. Australia has some of the strictest COVID-19 quarantine regulations in place and its own cricketers are currently serving two weeks in an Adelaide hotel after returning from a white-ball tour of West Indies and Bangladesh. The Australian players are also not allowed to train at the moment.

Joe Root and Tim Paine in Ashes 2019 (Image Credit: Getty)

England’s multi-format players, such as Jos Buttler, Jonny Bairstow, Ben Stokes, Mark Wood, Chris Woakes, wouldn’t be willing to spend up about four months away from their families as they will fly to Australia straight from the UAE, where the T20 World Cup will be held. Some of those will also participate in the second half of the IPL 2021. There is also a prospect of a postponed Ashes tour.

Cricket Australia Working With The ECB On The Proposed Make-Up Of England Touring Party

It is understood that Cricket Australia doesn’t have enough influence over the government there and even individual states can impose a ban or shut the city entirely on quick notice, disturbing all the agreements made before the players left the UK. CA said on Saturday it was working closely with government and health officials in its quest to find a solution.

“Cricket Australia continues to work closely with the ECB (England and Wales Cricket Board) and government authorities in Australia regarding the upcoming Ashes series, which will be the centerpiece for one of the biggest summers of cricket on record,” a CA statement read.

England batsman Jos Buttler (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)

“We are currently planning the operational requirements of this tour and working with the ECB on the proposed make-up of the England touring party. As was the case last season, CA will work constructively and in partnership with government to deliver the summer of cricket, while ensuring the health, wellbeing, and safety of the community.”

England’s wicketkeeper-batsman Jos Buttler said he might skip the end-of-year Ashes tour over concerns about being apart from his family due to Australia’s COVID-19 restrictions. England will play the Twenty20 World Cup in the United Arab Emirates in October and November before heading to Australia, likely keeping players who feature in both away from home for four months.

After pulling out of the remainder of the Indian Premier League Twenty20 tournament, Jos Buttler said he may also miss the end of the ongoing Test series with India due to his wife expecting their second child. The five-Test Ashes series is slated to be held from December 8 to January 18.