England head coach Chris Silverwood will miss the Sydney Test after another positive Covid case emerged from their tour party outbreak.
A member of Silverwood’s family of five tested positive in the latest round of tests meaning the coach and the rest of the family must isolate for 10 days across New Year as close contacts.
It now takes the number of positive cases in the outbreak to seven, three support staff and four family members.
Bowling coach Jon Lewis, spin bowling coach Jeetan Patel and fitness consultant Darren Veness have all tested positive and are currently isolating.
There is the distinct possibility that Silverwood himself could yet test positive with the virus having incubated.
And there are fresh concerns that despite keeping the tour party as socially distanced as possible over the last few days, covid may soon emerge in the playing group.
There is another round of testing to come before the players move on to Sydney but a full batch of negative tests seems unlikely.
At this stage the tour is set to continue as planned with any positive cases and close contacts staying in Melbourne.
It means assistant coach Graham Thorpe will take charge of the team in Sydney where England are aiming to reduce their 3-0 deficit with two games left to play.
In a statement, the ECB confirmed: "Following the latest round of PCR tests administered to the England Men’s touring party on Wednesday 29 December, one family member has tested positive.
"As a result of the positive test, England Men’s Head Coach Chris Silverwood will have to isolate for 10 days, along with his family, in Melbourne and will miss the fourth Ashes Test due to start in Sydney on Wednesday 5 January 2022.
"A fourth successive round of PCR tests will be administered today (Thursday).
"The touring party have recorded seven positive cases - three support staff and four family members - since a PCR testing regime was implemented on Monday 27 December.
"Both teams - England and Australia - are due to fly to Sydney via a chartered flight on Friday morning."
The fourth Test is due to begin on January 4.
