England all-rounder Moeen Ali will not be available for the first Test against Sri Lanka, head coach Chris Silverwood has confirmed.
Moeen, 33, tested positive for Covid-19 upon the squad’s arrival in Sri Lanka on 4 January and remains in isolation.
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Chris Woakes is out of isolation after being deemed a possible close contact but Silverwood said it will be “tight” for him to be ready for the first Test.
The two-Test series starts in Galle on Thursday.
