England given green light to start training in Sri Lanka after latest round of testing

England have received a boost on their tour of Sri Lanka with the news that a fresh round of testing for Covid-19 has yielded no further positive cases.

Moeen Ali was on Monday found to have the virus upon arrival in Hambantota, where he will quarantine for 10 days in a separate wing of the touring team’s hotel.

Chris Woakes was identified as a close contact of the off-spinning all-rounder and will continue to self-isolate despite the fast bowler being among a round of blanket negatives across players and staff – discounting Moeen.

England’s training session on Wednesday afternoon will be their first since arriving in Sri Lanka

‘All PCR tests from yesterday (Tuesday) are negative, except for Moeen Ali, and we can start controlled training this afternoon. We will have a third Covid test tomorrow,’ an England and Wales Cricket Board spokesperson said on Wednesday.

The spokesperson added: ‘Close contact Chris Woakes tested negative but will continue to isolate in his room.

‘Moeen Ali is now isolating at the team hotel in Hambantota. The original accommodation he was due to go to in Galle had building work on-site and the alternative option wasn’t up to standard as per the protocols. He returned yesterday evening and is now staying in a separate wing away from the England team.’

Moeen Ali was found to have the virus upon arrival in Hambantota and is now in quarantine

England’s training session on Wednesday afternoon will be their first since arriving in the country on Sunday, when they were disinfected with spray guns and tested before being confined to individual rooms at their hotel.

Their preparations can now start in earnest ahead of a two-match Test series which gets under way in Galle on January 14.

Moeen’s quarantine period ends the day before, almost certainly ruling him out of contention for the opener.