<p>England and Australia breathed a huge sigh of relief after all players from both teams returned negative Covid-19 results with the third Ashes Test to continue as planned on Tuesday.</p>.<p>Four members of the England party -- two support staff and two family members -- had <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/sports/cricket/england-cleared-to-play-after-multiple-covid-19-cases-hit-camp-1065091.html" target="_blank">tested positive</a> for coronavirus just hours before the start of day two in Melbourne on Monday.</p>.<p>The England team and management underwent rapid antigen tests as they were about to leave for the ground, which came back negative.</p>.<p>But they were also required to have PCR tests as a precaution at the end of play.</p>.<p>It left them facing a nervous wait and Cricket Australia sweating on not just the remainder of the Boxing Day Test, but the rest of the Ashes series.</p>.<p>But they got the all-clear, with the Test to resume as scheduled with England in deep trouble at 31 for four in their second innings, still 51 runs behind Australia.</p>.<p>"Players from the Australian and England teams all had PCR Covid-19 tests after play yesterday and all results have come back negative," Cricket Australia said in a statement.</p>.<p>"The families of both sets of players also had PCR tests yesterday and all returned a negative test.</p>.<p>"The England team's support staff and their family members who tested positive after PCR tests yesterday are in isolation."</p>.<p>Driven by the Omicron variant, coronavirus cases are surging in Australia -- particularly in Sydney -- where the fourth Test is scheduled to start on January 5, before the Ashes finale in Hobart.</p>.<p>More than 6,000 cases are being reported daily across New South Wales state, where Sydney is located.</p>.<p>Nevertheless, Cricket Australia chief Nick Hockley said on Monday the plan was to press on as scheduled with the Ashes.</p>.<p>"That's absolutely the plan, there's nothing to suggest otherwise. We'll rely on the protocols," he told reporters, before cautioning: "It's a day-by-day proposition."</p>.<p><strong>Check out latest DH videos here</strong></p>
<p>England and Australia breathed a huge sigh of relief after all players from both teams returned negative Covid-19 results with the third Ashes Test to continue as planned on Tuesday.</p>.<p>Four members of the England party -- two support staff and two family members -- had <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/sports/cricket/england-cleared-to-play-after-multiple-covid-19-cases-hit-camp-1065091.html" target="_blank">tested positive</a> for coronavirus just hours before the start of day two in Melbourne on Monday.</p>.<p>The England team and management underwent rapid antigen tests as they were about to leave for the ground, which came back negative.</p>.<p>But they were also required to have PCR tests as a precaution at the end of play.</p>.<p>It left them facing a nervous wait and Cricket Australia sweating on not just the remainder of the Boxing Day Test, but the rest of the Ashes series.</p>.<p>But they got the all-clear, with the Test to resume as scheduled with England in deep trouble at 31 for four in their second innings, still 51 runs behind Australia.</p>.<p>"Players from the Australian and England teams all had PCR Covid-19 tests after play yesterday and all results have come back negative," Cricket Australia said in a statement.</p>.<p>"The families of both sets of players also had PCR tests yesterday and all returned a negative test.</p>.<p>"The England team's support staff and their family members who tested positive after PCR tests yesterday are in isolation."</p>.<p>Driven by the Omicron variant, coronavirus cases are surging in Australia -- particularly in Sydney -- where the fourth Test is scheduled to start on January 5, before the Ashes finale in Hobart.</p>.<p>More than 6,000 cases are being reported daily across New South Wales state, where Sydney is located.</p>.<p>Nevertheless, Cricket Australia chief Nick Hockley said on Monday the plan was to press on as scheduled with the Ashes.</p>.<p>"That's absolutely the plan, there's nothing to suggest otherwise. We'll rely on the protocols," he told reporters, before cautioning: "It's a day-by-day proposition."</p>.<p><strong>Check out latest DH videos here</strong></p>