Joe Root ‘relieved’ over cancelled Lankan Test tour, team leaves
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The England team left Sri Lanka last evening - Pix by Amila Gamage
England captain Joe Root has said that he feels “a relief” after the Test series against Sri Lanka was called off amid fears over the spread of coronavirus.
“The right decision has been made,” Root was quoted as saying by BBC before the flight home.
“There was an element of relief. You could see looking at the players that their minds were elsewhere, thinking about people back home. Now that we can go and look after families and be with loved ones that’s put a lot of guys at ease.
“Naturally there was a lot of talk in the dressing room and it got to a stage where it overshadowed the cricket.
“Looking at how quickly things have happened at home, you’re thinking about family and friends who might be a bit more vulnerable and that’s hard when you’re a long way away.
“It was clear it was getting in the way of performance and affecting the mental wellbeing of the guys.”
Skippers Dimuth Karunaratne and Joe Root do a 'fist bump' instead of handshake after the press conference