Ashes 2021: Hollioake joins former Ashes coaching team from around the world

Former England player Adam Hollioake has joined the coach of the team after suffering a COVID-19 appearance ahead of Australia’s fourth Ashes test.

The match will start on Tuesday in Sydney, where Australia has already saved the Ashes, leading the five-Test series 3-0 to play two tests.

Hollioake will work with former Surrey teammate Graham Thorpe while England coach Chris Silverwood is in charge of isolating Melbourne after a family member tested positive for COVID-19.

Bowling coach Jon Lewis Seam, spin bowling coach Jeetan Patel and fitness coach Darren Veness also tested positive for the virus and were forced to stay behind in Melbourne.

READ:
Australian Travis Head has ruled out a Sydney Ashes test with COVID-19

Thorp said Hollioak, who played in four tests and 35 one-day internationals in the late 1990s, will bring “a little bit of energy” to the locker room.

“Adam is not another set of hands,” Thorp told the British media on Friday. “It can also bring a bit of energy to the locker room and the philosophical side of life, and that’s very important at times like this.

“Perspective will bring that nice sense. But for me it’s also about standing up. Players have a chance. We want to see the fight and the character. I don’t want people to lower their heads.

“He doesn’t do that. We have two games left in this series to show our players that they have the character and the will and the skill and the skill.”

Australian batsman Travis Head tested positive earlier on Friday and was not available for the Sydney test. Mitchell Marsh, Nic Maddinson and Josh Inglis have been called in as additional covers.