England head coach Silverwood tests positive for COVID-19

Under-fire England head coach Chris Silverwood has tested positive for COVID-19 while quarantining in Melbourne with his family but he is expected to join the team ahead of the fifth Ashes Test in Hobart.

Silverwood was due to miss the fourth Test against England starting in Sydney on Wednesday after he was forced into isolation when a family member tested positive for COVID-19.

"Silverwood has been isolating in Melbourne since December 30 following a positive test from one of his family members. He will remain in isolation until January 8," the England and Wales Cricket Board said in a statement according to Skysports.

The ECB said Silverwood is asymptomatic and is fully vaccinated.

"He is expected to return to the England party in Hobart ahead of the fifth Ashes Test."

Silverwood has been under severe criticism from former England players who have called for his sacking after the visiting side suffered humiliating losses in the all the three Tests so far.

England has already announced that Adam Hollioake will not join the coaching set-up ahead of the fourth Test due to a close contact of his testing positive for COVID-19.

Hollioake was to assist England with Silverwood, pace bowling coach Jon Lewis, spin mentor Jeetan Patel and strength and conditioning specialist Darren Veness all isolating.

It has left assistant coach Graham Thorpe in charge of the squad for the upcoming match.

The team's training session in Sydney was also cancelled on Sunday after a net bowler tested COVID-19 positive.

England's training cancelled after net bowler tests positive

England's preparations for the fourth Ashes Test against Australia took another hit on Sunday after one of their net bowlers tested positive for COVD-19, leading to cancellation of their training session with other net bowlers deemed as close contacts.

Having already conceded the series after three successive defeats, England suffered the latest blow just hours after the tourists planned to draft former one-day captain Adam Hollioake into the team's coaching staff, media reports in Sydney said.

The fourth Test will start at the SCG from January 5.

Earlier in the week, members of the England set-up had cleared a round of COVID-19 testing just before Day 2 of the Ashes Test at the MCG after two from their support staff and two from their families returned positive for the virus.

As a result of the positive cases, the start of play was delayed.

The visitors are preparing for the fourth Test with a skeleton coaching staff after head coach Chris Silverwood was forced into isolation when a family member tested positive for COVID.

Pace bowling coach Jon Lewis, spin mentor Jeetan Patel and strength and conditioning specialist Darren Veness have also tested positive.

It has left assistant coach Graham Thorpe in charge of the squad for the upcoming match.

Former England batter Thorpe is being supported by Nottinghamshire's Ant Botha and ex-England wicketkeeper James Foster.

Hollioake, a former England one-day captain who lives on the Gold Coast, had been asked to join the tourists in Sydney.

However, media reports stated on Sunday that a close contact of the 50-year-old Hollioake has subsequently tested positive.

Australia has seen a spike in COVID cases in recent weeks much like the rest of the world.