DERBYSHIRE’S County Championship match against Essex has been abandoned after one of the home team players tested positive for Covid-19.

The unnamed player returned a positive lateral flow test on Sunday night and is now self-isolating along with the rest of the Derbyshire squad involved in the Essex game and the players who travelled to Durham on Friday for the Vitality Blast match.

In a statement, Derbyshire said: “Due to the isolation protocols and impact on the available playing squad, the decision has been made in conjunction with Public Health England and the England & Wales Cricket Board to abandon the fixture, with the awarding of points to be confirmed in due course.”

A decision on whether Derbyshire’s two remaining T20 matches against Northants on Friday and Yorkshire on Sunday will be made in consultation with PHE and the ECB.

Derbyshire’s chief executive Ryan Duckett said: “As a club, we have operated a robust testing regime among all staff throughout the return to cricket and have clear safety regulations in place.

“This isolated incident highlights the fact that sport is not exempt from the pandemic. It is of course a great disappointment to see the abandonment of a fixture, but the safety of all players, staff and supporters must always come first.”

The abandonment almost certainly ends Essex’s chances of qualifying for Division One as they needed to win the game with maximum points to finish in the top two of Group 1.

At the end of day one, Essex had taken three bowling points after dismissing Derbyshire for 146 and in reply were 86 for three from 38 overs. If the game is confirmed as a draw, Essex would take 11 points and Derbyshire nine.

Last season, Gloucestershire’s game with Northants at Bristol was called off after 29.4 overs after a player tested positive for Covid 19 and subsequently the game was classed as a draw.