Ashes Referee David Boon Tests Covid Positive, To Miss Sydney Test

The ICC match referee for the Ashes series, David Boon, has tested positive to Covid-19 and will miss the fourth Test in Sydney.

Boon is asymptomatic and fully vaccinated, including a booster, and is expected to return for the fifth Test in Hobart on January 14. Steve Bernard, an ICC referee based in NSW, will take over as match referee for the Sydney Test which starts on Wednesday. 

Along with Boon, England head coach, Chris Silverwood, will also miss the Sydney test after his family member returned positive. Silverwood will need to isolate for the next 10 days. 

All players and staff and their families, plus match officials have been having daily PCR tests since Monday when four people in the England camp tested positive on rapid antigen tests