Michael Vaughan warns Ashes could turn into a FARCE with England sending a weakened team if Australia doesn't allow players' families to tour with them amid strict Covid-19 rules
- England are set for Ashes tour of Australia at the end of the year
- Australian government's strict Covid rules mean players' families stay at home
- It raises prospect of England's cricketers spending four months without them
- Ex-England captain Vaughan worries this could lead to player withdrawals
Michael Vaughan has said the upcoming Ashes series could be a 'farce' involving a less competitive England team unless the side is given travel exemptions so their families can enter and tour Australia.
The Australian government has limited the number of overseas arrivals during the pandemic, with thousands of its citizens unable to return and Covid-19 cases surging in the country's largest cities amid a sluggish vaccination programme.
In an interview, former England captain Vaughan said it was not reasonable to expect players to travel without their families or partners.
England's Test team are set to tour Australia in the Ashes in December and January
Former England captain Michael Vaughan fears a weakened team could head Down Under unless the current Australian Covid restrictions are loosened
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'If England arrive in Australia with half a team and I hope it doesn't come to this ... it would almost be that The Ashes become a bit of a farce,' he told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
The Yorkshireman said England's side could be below par if players opt not to tour Down Under, but he endorsed such a possible move by players.
'If Australia continue to lock the borders and make it very, very difficult there will come a stage where a sports team decides not to come,' Vaughan said.
Australia celebrate winning the last Ashes series to be held Down Under back in 2017-2018
The Aussies then retained the Ashes in England in 2019 after the series was drawn 2-2
'I'm not saying that will be the England cricket team but ... as we speak, I would be amazed if England have a full-strength team for the Ashes.
'I would completely back the players if they pull out.'
Last month Vaughan tweeted that if England's players were not allowed to have family on the tour 'they should call the Ashes off', adding: '4 months away from your family is totally unacceptable.'
The five-Test series is due to begin at the Gabba in Brisbane on December 8.
