In a massive exercise undertaken by the England and Wales Cricket Board to ascertain whether English cricketers are COVID-19 positive or not; all 702 Tests carried out on players, support staff, match officials turned out negative, ECB said in a statement.

England's entire training group, who are preparing for the impending West Indies series at the Ageas Bowl in Southampton, have all tested negative for coronavirus, as confirmed by the England and Wales Cricket Board.

The news comes as a big thumps up for all the English cricketers who are vying for booking a place in the squad for the upcoming Test series against the West Indies.

The ECB confirmed that a total of 702 COVID-19 tests were carried out between June 3 and June 23 with “several stakeholder groups” working at Southampton and Manchester with some being tested multiple times.

“We can confirm that all 702 tests were negative,” the ECB said in a statement.

“The England & Wales Cricket Board can confirm that 702 COVID-19 tests were carried out between 3 June and 23 June with several stakeholder groups working at the bio-secure venues of the Ageas Bowl and Emirates Old Trafford. “These groups include players, support staff, match officials, ECB staff, venue staff and hotel staff.”

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England's tearaway speedster Jofra Archer will, however, go through a second COVID-19 test and will join England’s behind-closed-doors training camp on Thursday, provided he tests negative.

The decision to go through another test was taken as a precautionary measure after a member of his household felt unwell over the weekend.

“Jofra Archer will join England’s behind-closed-doors training camp on Thursday after a member of his household felt unwell over the weekend,” the ECB had said in a statement earlier in the day.