Tim Paine didn’t mince words when talking about the men’s Ashes, the high-profile Test series that is played between Australia and England. He said that it will depend upon the choice of players who choose to fly to Australia. He also said that it doesn’t matter whether England’s captain Joe Root decides to come for the Ashes as the series is going to go on despite his absence.
Lockdown rules are harsh in Australia and English players are not allowed to be accompanied by their family members. The Ashes players will have to adhere to strict bio-bubble rules and isolation which has caused murmurs of some of the senior players dropping out due to excessive fatigue caused by multiple bio-bubbles. Earlier, English Cricket Board pulled out of the Pakistan series citing bubble fatigue.
They'll have a choice to make, you either get on that plane or don't. The Ashes are going ahead. The first Test is on December 8th, whether Joe is here or not. There will be a squad of England players coming here. We have not heard one England player come out and say they will not be coming. I think it's been beat up. If you do want to come and represent your country and play in an Ashes series, which Joe Root said 'that's what they all want to do, that's what they dream about doing' then come and do it. They all want to come, there's no doubt about that. They're trying to get themselves the best possible conditions they can. But we all are. We don't want to give them poor conditions because we're going to be in the same boat, it'll be worked out.
Tim Paine, Australia men’s cricket team captain