Will The Ashes series go ahead this summer?

This summer, England are set to tour Australia for The Ashes, renewing the oldest and fiercest rivalry in Test cricket.

But with plenty of complications due to the COVID-19 pandemic, questions are being asked as to whether or not the series will go ahead.

Veteran seamer Stuart Broad has said he is willing to come, while some former players have raised concerns about the tour.

But after England withdrew from an upcoming tour of Pakistan, things still remain up in the air for the summer tour of Australia. 

English players are concerned in regards to their families and the quarantine arrangements for them, while there may also be dramas in regards to the state governments here in Australia and the vaccination rates and freedoms each state is allowing. 

Sporting News understands that Cricket Australia and ECB will meet in late-September to discuss the travel and quarantine arrangements, with CA positive the series will go ahead and all parties will be satisfied. 

THE ASHES 2021/22 SCHEDULE

At this stage, the first match between Australia and England is scheduled to begin on December 8th at The Gabba in Brisbane.

From there the sides will meet in Adelaide, before moving to Melbourne for the annual Boxing Day Test and Sydney for the New Year's Test.

The series will wrap up in Perth, with the final match beginning on January 14th. 

See below for the full schedule for the 2021/22 Ashes series.

ECB GIVE 'CONDITIONAL APPROVAL' FOR THE ASHES

In a huge boost for the upcoming series, the ECB have given 'conditional approval' for The Ashes to proceed later this year in Australia.

In a statement released on Saturday, the confirmation of the Ashes tour was confirmed - subject to several conditions being met before they travel Down Under. 

"Over recent weeks we have made excellent progress in moving forward on the England Men's Ashes Tour," the statement said. 

"To facilitate further progress and allow a squad to be selected, The ECB Board has met today and given its approval for the tour to go ahead.

"This decision is subject to several critical conditions being met before we travel.

"We look forward to the ongoing assistance from Cricket Australia in resolving these matters in the coming days."

TODD GREENBERG UNDERSTANDS ENGLAND'S CONCERNS, CONFIDENT SERIES WILL GO AHEAD

Australian Cricketers Association CEO Todd Greenberg has admitted he understands the England players' concerns, but believes all parties can find a middle-ground despite the ongoing drama. 

“We’ve been very confident it will be played, we’ve been saying that for a period of time and nothing overnight changes that," he said on Garry & Tim - SEN Breakfast. 

"I think the English statements overnight are pretty accurate and pretty reasonable, given it is a big tour and they want to make sure everything is in place. All of our own players have said that we have a very good plan in place.

"It’s important also to understand that those plans will be in place for both teams, in exactly the same way, with Australian players and families and English players and families. We’re very confident in the planning from Cricket Australia.

“We’ve been in regular dialogue over the last six months. When you’re on that side of the world, they’d be asking a lot of questions, just like we would be if we were to go and tour there.

"We’ve got enormous entity with the players and the management teams with England. We’ve tried to answer as many questions as we can to give them as much satisfaction and much comfort as possible.

"We were in exactly this point last year with India touring, we were unsure and I think that’s the world we live in. We all have to work much harder and be more agile to keep sport on the playing field and make sure our players are safe.

“The top concern is making sure if they want their families with them, they can. Also if they are coming to Australia, they can live as much of a normal existence as possible. The number-one priority is to be able to prepare and play to the best of their abilities in order to win The Ashes.

"I don’t think that’s unreasonable in any sense – our job is to make sure we give them as much of that comfort as possible."

CRICKET AUSTRALIA  STATEMENT ON ASHES TOUR

Cricket Australia released a statement to confirm their English counterparts had been informed of the conditions they'll be subject to.

"We have had regular and positive discussions with the ECB over the past six months on providing conditions which will allow players from both teams to perform at their best during the Ashes summer," a statement read.

"The health and wellbeing of both squads while ensuring the tour proceeds in a safe manner is a priority and we especially thank our government partners for all their support in this regard.

"We are also buoyed by rising vaccination rates and an evolving approach to the pandemic in Australia.

"The anticipated conditions for the tour, including quarantine arrangements have now been communicated to the ECB and directly to the England players and staff."

ENGLAND CRICKET BOARD'S STATEMENT ON ASHES TOUR

Despite those comments from CA, Aussie fans may be concerned to hear the ECB remains unsure about whether they will participate in the tour.

"Over the weekend we have been talking to England men’s players and management to provide them with the latest information about the proposed arrangements for this winter’s scheduled Ashes tour," an ECB statement read.

"We remain in regular and positive dialogue with Cricket Australia over these arrangements as the picture is constantly evolving.

"With health and wellbeing at the forefront, our focus is to ensure the tour can go ahead with conditions for players and management to perform at their best.

"We will continue talking to our players this week to share the latest information and seek feedback.

JOE ROOT HEDGES BETS ON ASHES TOUR AS NEGOTIATIONS CONTINUE

England captain Joe Root has yet to commit to the Ashes tour despite declaring he is “desperate” to lead his side in Australia this summer. 

Root spoke amid widespread speculation that several England players may pull out of the tour if quarantine and biosecurity conditions are too restrictive, both for the players and for their families.

Cricket Australia presented its proposal for touring conditions to the ECB late last week. 

But the ECB are seeking clarification of several details before sharing the plans with the players.

"We are still waiting for some information," Root said. "Hopefully that will be with us soon. It's a little bit frustrating but it's where we are at. It's so hard to know until we find out what the conditions are going to be like. Hopefully it'll be coming shortly and we can start moving forward.”

'NO WAY': KEVIN PIETERSEN URGES ENGLAND PLAYERS TO STAY HOME

England great Kevin Pietersen has urged players to stay home and not travel to Australia, unless there are significant changes to quarantine rules.

Taking to Twitter, the 41-year-old said players are sick of being in bubbles for overseas tours and will want their families with them for The Ashes. 

"There is NO WAY I would go to The Ashes this winter. ZERO chance," he said.

"Unless, the ridiculous quarantine rules were squashed and my family could travel with zero restrictions.

"Players are now done with bubbles! DONE!!!!!!!"

There is NO WAY I would go to The Ashes this winter.
ZERO chance!
Unless, the ridiculous quarantine rules were squashed and my family could travel with zero restrictions.

Players are now done with bubbles!

DONE!!!!!!!

— Kevin Pietersen🦏 (@KP24) September 27, 2021

STUART BROAD COMMITTED TO THE ASHES 

He's been the villain against Australia for many years, but veteran seamer Stuart Broad said in his Mail On Sunday column that he was 100 per-cent committed to travelling for The Ashes. 

"My entire focus at the moment is getting myself ready physically for what I am resigned to being the most unusual of Ashes tours," he said.

"If you ask me if I would be happy to get on a plane to Australia in November, I would say yes. I am working tirelessly to get there. I don't feel there will be a postponement.

"In my mind, it is 100 per cent clear that an England team of some description will embark on the tour.

"But if another player called me and told me they couldn't commit, I would totally accept it."

ANDREW STRAUSS BELIEVES 'COMPROMISE CAN BE MADE' FOR THE ASHES

Former England skipper Andrew Strauss has said the Australian government, Cricket Australia and ECB must come to a solution that will allow families to travel with the players.

"I wouldn't want a postponement, I would want to make sure that the players' families can get there," he said at an vent at Lord's last month. 

"The last thing anyone wants is players having to make that choice between 'my family can't come and therefore I'm not going to go' or 'I'm going to go'.

"The solution to this is to find some sort of middle ground between the Australian Government, Cricket Australia, and the ECB, to make it as easy as possible for families to get out there and to have as few restrictions as possible when they are over there."

MICHAEL VAUGHAN 'GUARANTEES' ASHES WILL GO AHEAD

Former England captain and current commentator Michael Vaughan 'guaranteed' that the visitors would field a side come December, but it might not be at full-strength. 

“The Ashes will happen, I have no doubt about that," he told Fox Cricket.

"Whether it is with a full-strength England side I’m not too sure, there may be one or two players that are a part of all formats that might drop out and I’d understand that.

"Whichever team arrives in Australia – and there will be a team, I can guarantee you that – it’s not going to be easy for the England team."

GREG BLEWETT 'NERVOUS' ABOUT ASHES GOING AHEAD, FEELS JOE ROOT'S PARTICIPATION IS THE KEY

After England captain Joe Root admitted last month he was uncertain to travel for the Ashes if there was quarantine in Australia, former Test opener Greg Blewett believes the tour could be cancelled if the skipper and other senior players opt not to travel.

"It's going to be a nervous week, that's for sure," Blewett said on Triple M.

"I think it all depends on Joe Root. If they can't get Joe Root over the line, I think we might be in a bit of trouble.

"I think if there is no families allowed than a lot of [England's] senior players would be in doubt.

"If they can't get Joe Root, Jimmy Anderson, Ben Stokes is doubtful already, but if they can't get their senior players over the line, all the guys with families, then I think we're in a bit of strife [for the Tour to go ahead]."