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Kent cricket captain Sam Billings and England one-day squad in isolation after seven positive Covid-19 tests

Kent captain Sam Billings is isolating after a Covid outbreak in the England one-day squad.

Billings has been part of the team that has completed a 2-0 ODI series win over Sri Lanka after the third match was abandoned due to rain on Sunday.

Kent captain Sam Billings. Picture: Barry Goodwin (47427953)
Kent captain Sam Billings. Picture: Barry Goodwin (47427953)

The entire England one-day squad is now isolating, however, after three players and four staff members tested positive for Covid-19.

It means Billings will miss the upcoming one-day and T20 series with Pakistan which starts on Thursday.

A new squad, which could potentially include other Kent players, will be named later today under the captaincy of Ben Stokes.

ECB chief executive Tom Harrison said: ‘‘We have been mindful that the emergence of the Delta variant, along with our move away from the stringent enforcement of bio secure environments, could increase the chances of an outbreak.

"We made a strategic choice to try to adapt protocols, in order to support the overall wellbeing of our players and management staff who have spent much of the last 14 months living in very restricted conditions.

"Overnight we have worked swiftly to identify a new squad, and we are grateful to Ben Stokes who will return to England duties to captain.

"We also recognise the impact this news will have on our First Class Counties and their Men’s playing squads and thank them, along with our partners Sky and Royal London, for their ongoing support in dealing with this pandemic.’’

Read more: All the latest sports news in Kent

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