LONDON: England and Wales Cricket Board chief executive Tom Harrison (pix) said Thursday he was “very confident” this year’s Ashes tour of Australia would proceed as planned despite possible coronavirus travel restrictions.

England players have expressed concerns that their families may be unable to join them on the five-Test tour because of strict Australian border controls, as well as the prospect of another restrictive spell in a secure bubble.

And with individual states able to impose their own restrictions, there are fears England could find themselves caught up in the kind of scenario that has seen South Australia force athletes returning from the Tokyo Olympics to complete an additional 14-day home quarantine even when they have already quarantined in Sydney.