Kent have dropped 19-year-old batsman Jordan Cox from the squad for their next Bob Willis Trophy match, after he broke social-distancing protocols by agreeing to a request for a photo with some young fans.
Cox became the first player born in the 21st century to hit a first-class hundred on English soil in Kent’s innings win against Sussex this week, racking up 237 not out in an unbroken 423-run partnership with Jack Leaning.
But he will now enter a mandatory period of self-isolation after breaking guidelines, which will rule him out of Kent’s next match against Middlesex on Saturday, August 15. He will have to test negative for Covid-19 before he is allowed to join the squad again.
“I am very sorry that this has happened,” Cox said in a statement. “I fully understand the consequences, and I want to apologise to everyone. I’m gutted to be missing the next match and feel like I have let the team down.”
Paul Downton, Kent’s director of cricket, said: “It is unfortunate for Jordan that on the back of an outstanding performance, our team medical protocols were breached.
“We take these protocols very seriously and Jordan has no choice but to go into self-isolation.”