Middlesex Cricket can confirm that both John Simpson and Tom Helm have been named in England's replacement ODI squad to face Pakistan, following the ECB's statement released earlier this morning which announced news of a Covid outbreak in the England camp.
With the whole England squad forced into isolation, England have named a replacement squad for the series opener, which kicks off on Thursday in Cardiff against Pakistan.
Both Simpson and Helm will leave Cheltenham immediately and travel to join up with the rest of the replacement squad ahead of Thursday's game.
Robbie White will slot into Middlesex's side currently playing against Gloucestershire, as a Covid replacement for Simpson and will bat at number six, whilst Tom Helm wasn't featuring in the eleven currently playing so needs no replacement.
The Club would like to congratulate both John and Tom on their call-ups to the England squad, which features eighteen players, as follows:
ECB statement, released at 9.15am this morning:
Official statement - Covid-19 Testing
Following PCR tests administered yesterday (Monday) in Bristol, The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) can confirm that seven members - three players and four management team members- of the England Men's ODI party have tested positive for COVID-19.
In collaboration with Public Health England, Public Health Wales and Bristol Local Health Authority, those impacted will now observe a period of self-isolation from July 4 following the UK Government's protocol on quarantine.
The remaining members of the party have been deemed close contacts and will also isolate.
The ECB have confirmed the Royal London ODIs and the Vitality IT20s against Pakistan will go ahead. Ben Stokes will return to England duties and captain the squad – which will be named in the next few hours.
Incoming squad and support team members will follow PCR tests and bridging protocols to ensure safe entry to camp.
Tom Harrison, Chief Executive Officer, commented: "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."
