Silverwood, Boon to miss fourth Ashes Test

England head coach Chris Silverwood will miss the fourth Ashes Test in Sydney next week after a family member tested positive for COVID-19 and he must isolate for 10 days, the England and Wales Cricket Board said in a statement on Wednesday.

The fourth Test is due to start next Tuesday with Australia having already retained the Ashes, leading the series 3-0 with two matches to play.

England have struggled with a COVID-19 outbreak that was discovered before the start of the second day of third Test in Melbourne. Seven positive cases - three support staff and four family members - have been found in the camp this week.

Meanwhile, match referee David Boon has also tested positive for COVID-19 and will not be available for the fourth Ashes Test, Cricket Australia said.

Boon, who is asymptomatic and fully vaccinated, would be replaced by Steve Bernard, a New South Wales-based member of the international panel of referees, CA added.

Boon will remain in Melbourne, where he will complete 10 days quarantine, and is expected to be available for the fifth Test between Australia and England in Hobart, which begins on January 14.

Amid a growing number of infections in Australia, Thursday's Big Bash meeting between Perth Scorchers and Melbourne Stars has been postponed after a member of the Stars support staff returned a positive test.