The second one day international was cancelled as two in the England camp wait on COVID test results, casting serious doubt on whether the tour will continue.

On Sunday evening Cricket South Africa released a statement that read: ‘The decision has been taken by Cricket South Africa (CSA) and the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) whilst they await the outcome of the independent ratification of the two unconfirmed positive COVID-19 tests from the England camp and the continued health and wellbeing of both playing groups.’

Earlier in the day the decision with taken to abandon the rescheduled first ODI of the series in Paarl, as England awaited the results of the tests, and following staff at the hotel the teams are staying in, testing positive for COVID-19.

The teams are both based at what is supposed to be a bio-secure bubble at the Vineyard Hotel in Newlands, Cape Town. However, there have clearly been numerous breaches of regulations governing movement within that bubble, resulting in the series now being in danger of ending.

It was the second time in as many days that the first of three ODI matches has been abandoned due to positive tests.

England’s players and management on Friday expressed deep concerns about the integrity of South Africa’s COVID protocols. Now that they’ve been compromised, it heightens the likelihood that the tour will come to a premature end.