England to take Covid compliance officer on tour to Sri Lanka

England are set to take a designated Covid compliance officer on their tour to Sri Lanka next month in an attempt to avoid the same problems that ended their tour to South Africa.

The three-match one-day series against South Africa was cancelled when the England players lost confidence in the safety of the biosecure bubble after two hotel staff — who had been serving their food — tested positive for the virus.

Officials from Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) are desperate for those issues not to be repeated and the ECB has been in consultation with them to tighten safety protocols.

England will be the first international team to have such an officer and that person’s job will be to ensure that the biosecure bubble is…