England cricketers are told they will not be allowed shake hands and hug during West Indies test

England’s cricketers will be told to avoid handshakes, high-fives and hugs during their ‘bio-secure’ three-Test series against West Indies in a bid to lessen the risks of coronavirus.

Instead of the usual celebrations, they have been advised by team doctors to bump fists or touch elbows, minimising the chances of the virus being transmitted via the palm of the hand or by air droplets.

The plan may be easier said than done. West Indies went into their recent three-day practice match in Manchester with similar plans, but players were soon high-fiving as normal when wickets fell.

Last week, the ECB confirmed all 702 Covid-19 tests carried out in preparation for the three-match series — at the Ageas Bowl and Emirates Old Trafford — had come back negative. That tally included Jofra Archer, who had two tests after a member of his household reported symptoms.

Meanwhile, England spinner Jack Leach believes he might have contracted Covid-19 in January during the tour of South Africa, not long after a life-threatening bout of sepsis in New Zealand. 

He said: ‘We’ll never know. But if you had the symptoms I had there now, you’d think, “This is definitely coronavirus”. I feel healthy now, and want to stay that way.’