England pacer James Anderson feels gutted for the fans who didn’t get to see a finish to the thrilling Test series between India and England which came to an abrupt end last week. The five-match Test series had to be halted without the fifth Test as the final match was called off due to COVID-19 concerns in the Indian camp. Four members of the Indian contingent including head coach Ravi Shastri and bowling coach Bharat Arun had tested positive for COVID-19.
India’s junior physio Yogesh Parmar tested positive for the virus a day before the start of the fifth Test match which led to its cancellation. England Cricket Board (ECB) confirmed India were unable to field a team due to increasing COVID-19 cases in their camp. Virat Kohli & Co. were leading the series 2-1 and were a draw away from sealing a historic series win on English soil.
However, the fifth Test match had to be called off as the Indian players were apprehensive about the virus despite having tested negative in the subsequent rounds of COVID-19 tests post Parmar’s positive report. Anderson said he felt gutted for the fans who had booked tickets and hotels among others for the fifth Test at Old Trafford in Manchester.
“I’m gutted for everyone at Lancashire cricket, for the fans who paid for tickets/trains/hotels, for both sets of supporters that wanted to see the finish this series deserved,” Anderson wrote on his Instagram page.
“I hope it will be played again at some point and I hope I will get to play another international game at my home ground that I love so much,” he added.
