Sam Curran tests negative for coronavirus and will rejoin England squad ahead of West Indies series

Surrey all-rounder was self-isolating in Southampton after falling ill with sickness and diarrhoea but has made a full recovery and will return to the squad this weekend

England breathed a sigh of relief following their first coronavirus scare since preparations for the series against the West Indies got underway after Sam Curran’s Covid-19 test returned negative.

The all-rounder has been self-isolating since Thursday after falling ill with sickness and diarrhoea, though the 22-year-old did not show any symptoms of coronavirus and maintained his distance from the rest of the squad in Southampton as a precaution.

The England and Wales Cricket board confirmed on Friday that his test result returned negative, and that he has now recovered from the illness and will rejoin the squad this weekend.

An ECB statement read: "England's Sam Curran has tested negative following his Covid-19 test from yesterday.

"The Surrey all-rounder, who had a sickness bug has recovered and is currently missing the intra-group three-day match, which ends today, has been self-isolating in his room at the Ageas Bowl.

"He will now return to training over the next 24-48 hours and will be closely monitored by the team doctor. Curran will receive a further Covid-19 test on Sunday with the rest of the playing and management group."

The news follows a similar result for fast bowler Jofra Archer, who tested negative for coronavirus before he joined up with the squad in Southampton after a family member fell ill two weeks' ago.

The ECB has also approved an increase in overseas players in domestic cricket from next year and will now allow two per side in four-day and 50-over cricket.

Teams are currently allowed to field only one imported player, though foreign-born players with British passports and those on Kolpak registrations have not counted towards the allocation.

The effects of Brexit mean Kolpak deals will be terminated at the end of the postponed 2020 campaign meaning those players - as well as those who have had deals cancelled this summer due to the coronavirus pandemic - will now have a greater chance of earning deals.

The move was recommended by the performance cricket committee, chaired by Sir Andrew Strauss.

Curran will rejoin the England squad this weekend (Getty)

A statement from the ECB, whose formal terminology deems overseas professionals as 'unqualified', said: "First-Class Counties will be permitted to field a total of two unqualified cricketers in the same match in the County Championship and Royal London Cup from 2021.

"This represents an increase from the one unqualified cricketer that First-Class Counties are currently permitted to field in those two competitions.

"The Vitality Blast will remain unchanged, with First-Class Counties already permitted to field two Unqualified cricketers in the 20-over competition."

The decision operates in direct contrast to a recent suggestion by former England captain Michael Vaughan, who advocated a temporary halt to all overseas deals in a bid to save the game money the aftermath of Covid-19.

Strauss, also a distinguished England skipper and more recently director of men's cricket at the ECB, explained: "There is an important balance to be struck to ensure the need for good foreign players in county cricket and providing opportunity for nine England-qualified players in each county team.

"There are clearly long-established benefits for our domestic players to compete against and learn from the best players from across the world in addition to providing high-quality domestic cricket for county members and fans to enjoy.

"An increase in Unqualified cricketers allows First-Class Counties to maintain that standard while also enabling them to plan and prepare for next summer."

Boris Johnson attempted to explain why cricket cannot resume (LBC)

Elsewhere, the ECB has reiterated its stance that recreational cricket is safe to play.

While tennis has been allowed to resume by the Government following the peak of the coronavirus pandemic, thousands of village cricketers are still inactive as they wait for the green light.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has hinted that recreational cricket is not yet safe to be played due to issues surrounding communal teas and dressing rooms, but the governing body disputes that and says it has provided protocols on how the game can be restarted.

"The ECB believes that cricket is a non-contact sport, with very low risks of exposure, and that it can be played as safely as many other activities being currently permitted," it said in a statement.

"The detailed submission we have shared with the Department For Digital, Culture, Media and Sport includes advice on how we can stage cricket safely and mitigate all potential risks.

"We believe this advice - allied with strict hygiene measures - means recreational cricket should be viewed as safe by the UK Government, which would be welcome news to our nation's recreational cricketers."

Johnson had previously described the cricket ball as a "vector of disease" but said the dangers were more widespread.

"There are reasons. These debates have gone round and round," he said on LBC Radio.

"There are various other considerations. The longer answer, which I think probably (chief medical officer) Chris Whitty would give if he were here about cricket, the risk is not so much the ball, although that may be a factor.

"It's the teas, it's the changing rooms and so on and so forth. There are other factors involved that generate proximity which you might not get in a game of tennis."

Additional reporting by PA